Cop cells bulge with DUI arrests
(CNS): Senior police officers say they are outraged at the number of people who are still ignoring the drink-driving laws and finding themselves in the local police cells. The RCIPS revealed Wednesday that over 40 people have been locked up on suspicion of drinking and driving since the start of this year’s festive safety campaign. “Forty-four people who thought that the traffic Law did not apply to them are facing court in the New Year,” said Chief inspector Angelique Howell. “We have already locked up more people this year for DUI than we did during the complete safety campaign period last year.”
Outraged by the disregard for road safety, CI Howell added, “The figure is deplorable and a sad indictment on the behaviour of drivers in the Cayman Islands.”
According to the latest statistics 44 drivers have been arrested since the start of Operation Christmas Cracker on 28 November. CI Howell warned that many more could be locked up and be facing charges in the New Year if drivers fail to heed police warnings.
“New Year’s Eve will soon be here and again people will be attending parties, or drinking in their homes. Once again we will be targeting drink drivers and taking those selfish and irresponsible people who continue to put their own lives and the lives of other road users at risk, off the streets. So if you really want to have a happy and safe New Year, take a cab, designate a driver or use the NDC purple ribbon bus,” she added.
Category: Crime
It is an offence to serve alcohol to a drunken person on a licensed premises since decades. So is it also to consume outside or on a liquor store property. No training for the employees.Go figure…
Oh, and publish right now the names of all those charged.
Can't happen. They must appear in court first.
Wrong. Once charged their names can be published.
Here are the solutions. Make it an offense to serve someone who’s drunk, punishable by summary forfeiture of liquor licence. Further, make those selling the alcohol liable in the civil courtsto those who suffer as a result of the drunkenness of the person to whom the alcohol was served. For example, in addition to criminal sanctions, the family of someone killed by X’s drunk driving can sue not only X but those who served the booze to X.
"Here are the solutions. Make it an offense to serve someone who's drunk, punishable by summary forfeiture of liquor licence. Further, make those selling the alcohol liable in the civil courts to those who suffer as a result of the drunkenness of the person to whom the alcohol was served. For example, in addition to criminal sanctions, the family of someone killed by X's drunk driving can sue not only X but those who served the booze to X."
My father used to own a bar and I remember him telling me that this is in the liquor law. I used to be a bartender and I refused to serve people who were drunk. I guess the law isn't being enforced. I was also told that if there is a problem at the bar and the bartender is drinking, the bartender is liable so I didn't drink while serving either.
Here's the problem: you can easily be over the limit without appearing to be drunk.
Yes, and God will pay for your food and survival!! Cayman biggest duty revenue is made from ? It paves your streets and paints your schools. Go ahead complain or move to Booby quay.
And Cayman's solution to the drink driving problem….? Longer opening hours for licensed establishments. No one wants to admit it, but we are as a society highly irresponsible with alcohol and accepting of drunken driving across all social strata.
We are more interested in our right to drink than the right to life and have no problem with people depriving others of their right to life as long as we have our right to drink.
We need to get our priorities straight.
Quite right, except it’s profit, not our “right to drink”, that drives everything. The evil here is the bars and clubs, who serve as much booze as they like with impunity. And they don’t care if the customers are under-age either. These establishments are well-known. Just ask your kids where they don’t get their IDs checked.
If we kept the bars open 24 hours a day I wouldn’t have to drive anywhere.
I am outraged by the # of drunk drivers I see on the roads for the rest of the year – especially on Friday afternoons – starting at around 1pm. I am outraged that there are no regular checks throughout the rest of the year, I am outraged every morning when I see idiots driving on the roads with no respect for other drivers and I am sick and tired of people tailgating me. I've started slowing way down now until they get the message and back off but really if we had real Police doing real Police work Govt. could make a fortune in fines – that is of course if they can actually manage to get enough evidence for a conviction in the courts and within the time limit. I am outraged when I see Police Officers pulling out in traffic without indicating, overtaking and cutting right in front of me, driving round roundabouts without indicating, etc. etc.Need I go on?
Drinking impairs one's judgment, and so does outrageous taxi fares. Combine the two and you have a recipe for disaster which will be repeated for time eternal.
Folks it's time to grow up. Trough time at the bar is nothing but a pathway to misery. I've tried it too and quite frankly, it's over-rated. We say foolishness we wouldn't normally say, we brag excessively, are suddenly much better-looking and if the truth be known, look utterly stupid to sensible, sober members of society.
Alcohol has NO place in our lives and I call on those people who have the courage to admit that they have a problem to give it up.
"Oh, I can't give it up," we moan and whine, "Life is too stressful. Besides there's no harm in a social drink or two."
It's when the one or two turns into four or five and the demon starts to rule you, that's when the problem hits. How many of us have woken up the next day (hungover to boot) and wished that we hadn't acted in the foolish way that we did the previous evening.
Alcohol has no place in society. It is a deceiver and a mocker. It will eat you up and spit you out, all the while fooling you that you are in control.
Oh but it's such a good vintage. Damn right, as you piss away a $300 bottle of wine and all you have to show for it is a white liver, a headache and a lot less money than you would have had. Let me tell you, Chateau Mouton de Rothschild looks exactly the same in the urinal as Chateau Nuisance Wogga-Wogga.
My fellow human beings, for our children's sake, for our marriages, for our jobs and out of respect to our Creator, let's abandon this crazy habit.
Let Heineken and Budweiser and Grey Goose waste their money on painting their poison into the perfect picture. Do not be fooled. If you drink their drug, they own you, and you were born to be free.
Thanks for your time.
An ex-user and much happier for it. Heck, I don't even miss it. All this crap about always being a recovering alcoholic is utter tosh. When you walk away from it because you hate it, it has lost its power over you. (same for cigarettes and drugs)
In parts of the UK the names and addresses of drunk drivers are published in the newspapers. THis should happen here. These people shouled be named and shamed.
Naming convictions for DUI is seldom done here in the press, even though I have seen people named for other more trivial offences, i.e. failure to wear a seat belt, etc. However if you want to read about the queue of people appearing before a magistrate for drink driving offences, you can download a website which will give you all the information. It is http://www.caymanjudicial-legalinfo.ky/courts/Cause-Lists/default.aspx . That should make interesting reading in the New Year!
They used to be here too.
DUI is traffic court, not a criminal offense unlike ROW.
That fact that the RCIPS is surprised by these numbers is proof of how little they do. That # could be picked up on any given day, just park near a bar/restaurant between 1pm and 1am and target ppl once they are behind the wheel and on the road. I'm not really impressed with that number CI Howell.
44 is probably less than 10% of the actual drivers who would blow over 0.1 on any given night.
20 years I been doin it dem nah cetch me yet
Much of this could be avoided if we had better public transport, or taxis that don't try to charge $25 for a 2-mile trip
I do find it amusing that the police are "outraged" that 44 people thought the traffic law did not apply to them……
I am outraged that every day I can spot at least a dozen people that think the traffic law does not apply to them – those with broken headlights, tail lights and brake lights – those not wearing seat belts – those on cell phones weaving dangerously in and out of traffic – those with children clambering over the seats because they’re not strapped in………
The reason people think the traffic law does not apply to them is because the police are glaringly absent from our roads and have decided for whatever reason not to bother going after these small misdemeanours.
Whilst people get the impression that it’s ok to drive with broken lights and no seat belts – minor traffic offenses – it’s hardly surprising that this behavior escalates into people thinking the traffic law doesn’t apply – and I’m surprised it’s a mere 44 people who the police have actually bothered to catch – I’ve witnessed far more than that just over the past week who are understandably confident that whether or not the law applies to them, they’re not going to be stopped so why not push the envelope a little further.
This behavior is likely to continue until someone has the gumption to say “enough” and help us reclaim our roads back from the lazy, arrogant and dangerous drivers who seem to have more presence on the roads than the police these days.
I salute those few police who really are trying to make a difference – sadly there don’t seem to be many of you.
Enough spouting about your outrage – finally the police are outraged – hallelujah – perhaps this will spur some action finally – we, the public, have been outraged for some time……
No mention of the DUI's that don't get prosecuted. The ones that got locked up obviously have no connections witn the higher ranks of the RCIP. Oh yes Cayman it is still here, I see it often where my boss is drunk and driving, but despite informing the police and despite him being stopped he doesnt get prosecuted. Why? Because he is a high ranking civil servant. You will see other cases where the case has not got to court in over a year and the offender is still driving and still has a licence. The strategy being that the longer you leave it the more likely the evidence will be lost or useless by the time it comes to court.
I like the sneaky work…. reporting your boss. Keep it up and maybe some new cop that doesn't know 'just who he is' will ticket the drunken bum.
What happened to the RCIPS VIP taxi service?
Anyone know if RCIPS still do the, "Sir, can we give you a lift home?" routine when someone important gets stopped DUI?
It used to be very common a few years ago but now the officers probably just let them drive themselves home.
due to the outrageous price of taxis, people on cayman will always end up taking the risk….
solution = deregulate taxis and run a late night bus service…..
Removing the reserved occupation status of taxi drivers would help this problem.
There is a big market for part time taxi drivers who would be willing to work the shifts that would get people home reliably and for a reasonable price.
CI Howell is outraged? Now she knows how the rest of us feel about the RCIPS when investigations are botched and criminals go free!
Lets get this right people are NOT ignoring the drink-driving laws, they are in fact ignoring ALL driving laws. Drivers, including the police, do not wear seat belts – illegal. People make illegal turns, don’t indicate turns, and the list goes on, even Government cars have illegally darkened windows. Let’s not just pick on certain laws at certain times of the year, let’s firstly get the police to obey the law, then get the police to actually enforce all the traffic laws at all times. Fines for speeding past AL Thompson’s alone would pay for a new traffic officer.
Anon 20;48
You are so right, you ever wonder why there are no trafiiic cops place at the race track at A.L. Thompson. Also no cops are placed at roundabouts to prosecute those not using their Indicators.
As annoying as not indicating is I think you will find its not a punishable offence unless it was part of another more serious offence. Most people don't indicate because they don't know when or how to despite the efforts of the NRA. To put it into context the local guide to driving advocates indicating right when enterering a roundabout to go straight across, this is in direct contravention of road traffic laws in the UK, Canada and Australia (that's the only ones I know) and I believe it is also taught by some of the driving instructors. I don't know what the Cayman law says but the police assume Cayman laws are based on the UK ones.
I am not here to say whether this practice is right or wrong but common sense would suggest that you don't have a set of rules that apply only in Cayman to a widely used road set up.
If you start simple and work up from there – everyone taking the first exit should indicate left on entering the roundabout you may end up with more people at least getting that one right.
I don't care where or when people indicate so long as they indicate to others where they plan to go. It is also easier to find the indicator when you are not holding a phone to your ear.
There are some possible repeat drunk drivers there and people with real problems with alcohol. Part of the system should be to identify the problem drinkers and get them help because they will drive drunk again.
Biggest problem I have with alcohol is that I can’t afford enough of it.
I agree with The Watcher on the T shirt suggestion & the heavy fine – I don't agree that their licence should not be taken away. I understand hardship may well be placed on the family but the more ppl that have their licence taken away the faster others will realise that they cannot get away with it. And the less the family caters to the person who has been caught the quicker they will think twice about doing it again.
A very heavy fine, loss of licence, community service (wearingthe t shirt ), names published in the local media and a few sessions at either AA or Al Anon will hopefully sort these losers out!
There is no excuse for drink driving.
On Sunday afternoons after Sunday Brunch you see dozens of drunk drivers on the rods, and not a polie car in sight. Obvisously the RCIPs take a sieta at this time
On the one hand we have more and more liquor establishments opening(interesting,especially in this economy),then on the other we have more DUI offences being commited, notably during the holidays. While one does not completely sustain the other, I do believe its safe to say convenience is a major contributing factor. Hey, but im sure a lil jail time will build character :-0
This round is on me!
interesting!!!
You said it, interesting!!! More, very interesting!!! There are lots yes that do and don't listen and there are those police that are doing right……you got the word…..'interesting'!!!!
The campaign should run all year round.
Lock them up, and society will be safer.
I would suggest that the Judicial system put heavy fines on these people. Taking away their licence is taking away the livelihood of their children and family.
When taken to court, I believe these persons should be fined about 2,000.00 dollars and to do commmunity service at the schools with a T SHIRT saying I WAS CAUGHT DRIVING DRUNK. Lets see how that would go down and what message it would send to the children.
How about taking their car away and crushing it!
16:55 I agree with what you say and especially what the Watcher said, about taking away their car, but not to crush it. Their car should be taken away and auctioned off . Make them walk to work. I magine taking a nice Benz, Lexus or BMW wow!! I am sure the drunk driver would think twice before drunk driving.
The Judicial department has to send a clear message to drunk drivers, which they are not doing. Taking away the licence is not helping. Seize their car, fine them and confine them for atleast three months. They will not like loosing their car and on top of that having a fine. Wearing the T> Shirt with large writing saying I WAS CAUGHT DRUNK DRIVING AND PAYING THE PRICE and doing community work, at the schools. iF I was a kid at the school I would gather a croud and point at them jeering.
How about the rest of Cayman's 'society' make some reasonable and logical attempt to address the CAUSE of the problem rather than the effect. Yes, take someone's car away from them and crush it. now THAT really makes a lot of sense doesn't it. Well you know what? that person will get another car and will end up back in the bars and will become an even bigger menace to the general public because of the way he was treated. People drink too much, just like people do robberies, for a cause, and until our holier than thou government and society chooses to address these causes we will continue to live with and fight both of these menaces in futility. When you chop a weed off with a machete it will grow back every single time until it is decided to get to the root of the problem. With respect to Ms. Howell, becoming 'outraged' at the problem very obviously does nothing whatsoever to address the problem in any way at all.
There is a nominal fine, you will loose your licence for minimum of one year, and you will have to demonstrate to the court that you have enrolled in an approved alcohol treatment program. Few actually complete these programs.
Those who attend beyond the first few sessions will watch the public confession and apology videos and articles composed by foreign police departments where part of sentencing requires the publishing of a description the terrible decisions they made and the consequences thereafter.
The public really needs to hear the painful reality from those DUI drivers who have killed, wounded or paralysed to correct cultural attitudes. High school kids need to hear these in social studies class. The number of people in that category in this small nation is staggering. Part of DUI rehabilitation should be the publishing of their story for all to read. It sends a very powerful message, and suddenly the $20 cab ride will seem very affordable.
In the US, they show you videos of people in horrible DUI accidents as well. Unfortunately,what I just don't get is that the same people that survives one car accident and even kills someone goes out and does it again and sometimes even themselves get killed in another accident. I know of several people that it happened to. They just seem to think that they are invincible.
In real terms that's only just over one a day.
I've been to parties and events in the last month where a well-placed roadblock would have matched that number of DUIs (including a number of serving members of RCIPS) in about 30 minutes as people drove home wasted after celebrating the festive season.
This is still very selective enforcement and it would be useful to know how, where and when these 44 drivers were caught to put the figures into some kind of context..
And how many of our very own Keystone Cops are in there? Too many of them like to drink and drive as well…
FYI, the numbers would be staggering if this campaign that you put on every December actually continued throughout the year. Why is it such a suprise to the police? Why dont they conduct these road blocks etc every week or month of the year? If that occurred then people would stop drink driving because they would know its a regular thing.
Instead, once a year the traffic department conducts these operations and are baffled by the number of DUI's. People dont think they are above the law, they continue to drink and drive because it is not enforced by the police 90% of the time.
Coupled with the fact that taxis robu and the fact that you cant walk home anyore for fear of being attacked / robbed by some thugs is it any wonder that this occurs?
I would like to share an experience with you about drinking and driving.
As you well know, some of us have been known to have had brushes with
the authorities on our way home from the odd social session over the
years. Well, I have done something about it.
A couple of nights ago I was out for a few drinks with some pals and
had a few too many of The Captain's best as well as beers and some
rather nice claret; but knowing full well I may have been slightly
over the limit, I did something I've never done before – I took a bus
home.
I arrived back safely and without incident which was a real surprise,
since I had never driven a bus before and have no idea where I got
this one.