Cops disappointed by drivers’ phone use
(CNS): Police have revealed that almost four dozen drivers have been ticketed for using their phones without a hands-free set while behind the wheel in the month since the law was implemented. The RCIPS said Monday that senior officers who had been initially encouraged by the public’s response to the new Traffic Law are now concerned that drivers are becoming complacent when it comes to cell phone driving. In the first couple of weeks only a handful of tickets were issued in relation to driving while using a cell phone. However, one month into the ban, 45 people have now been issued with tickets, fining them $150 for using their phones.
“Initially we were encouraged by the response of the public to the ban,” said Superintendent Adrian Seales. “We have been talking about the dangers of cell phone driving for a long time and we welcomed the introduction of the law including the partial cell phone ban. We were aware it would take a huge cultural shift in the Cayman Islands for people to stop using their phones at the wheel, and that’s why we carried out an aggressive public education campaign in the weeks leading up to the start date – Friday21 September."
He said it was extremely disappointing that complacency now seems to be setting in with more drivers ticketed in the last half of the month than in the two weeks immediately following the implementation of the ban.
“My message to the minority who continue to use their phones without a hands-free kit is that they will be caught. I would urge them to use common sense. The legislation has been put in place for a very good reason — that reason is that cell phone driving is dangerous, it distracts drivers and could cause road crashes, serious injury or death,” Seales added.
In addition to the traffic tickets issued for cell phone driving, in the past month 88 people have been ticketed for failing to wear a seatbelt, another 22 for excessive tint on car windows, 67 for defective lights and 51 drivers have also received speeding tickets.
Category: Crime
What a joke! I see almost half of that 45 each day chatting away while driving and no one pays them a blind bit of notice. Fact is, government won't provide adequate funding to the police to put a realistic number of trafic cops on the road to enforce our laws – and the other cops don't give a diddly-damn. (Gov't needs the money for 'travel related expenses.') And look at the fine, $150 for an offense that could easily kill one or more people. Yet if you drop a gum wrapper on the ground you're 'littering' which is subject to up to a $500 fine. Go figure!
Maybe the fine should be higher.
Let's see 150 X 45 = 6750 dollars. I wonder where they put that money?
Travel for the top guy
Until I stop seeing on a daily basis, tinted plate covers, black windows, blue and green headlights, outdated vehicle licences, straight-through exhausts, and drivers texting, I won't take the traffic police seriously.
These plastic plate covers are used in the States by drivers wanting to drive through electronic tolls without paying, as the cameras have difficulty reading them. The dark tinted plates are impossible to read, as are vehicle licences through tinted windscreens, which I have seen recently. Why don't these drivers just put a "gangsta' sticker on their cars? Would that make things easier for the cops?
Is anyone else afraid to drive or walkweekend nights? Have we given up the streets to testosterone-crazed boys?
well said but what can you do …when the politicians don't even follow the rules of the road?
I saw a female police officer chatting away on her cell phone and laughing her ass off by car city while driving last week. She even did a 180 turn without missing a beat so I guess practice makes perfect. I sat in my car a few seconds well and watched her. Even thought about driving past her to pretend chat on my phone to see what she'd do but nahhhh I'd most likely end up with a ticket for fake cell talking while she'd say she wason a crime fighting mission gathering some funny info on the culprit. *sigh*
The RCIPS need to look in the parking lot of the GT police station everyday and ticket their staff (and visitors) that have illegal tint and tinted license plate covers! There are several every day!
Well at least that's a good chunk of cash for the government. There are still so many cars out there with tinted windows so dark you can't see inside. How come they are not getting caught?
I have had two near misses in the last couple of days because of driver idiots on mobiles phones not concentrating on what they are doing, and I am sick of it. If they injure or kill themselves as a result of their irresponsible beahviour, I don't care. But inevitably somebody else ends up getting hit and suffering damage to their vehicle or worse, injury or loss of life.
In my view, those that cause injury to others as a result of being on the phone should be hung.
Good job. Keep it up
Im'disappointed with the traffic Cops presence and Leadership can we write someone a ticket to get back our millions?
Hey remember when that pesky local D. Banks was in charge and we had more prosecutions and no fatals?
Last week I was following a lady driving a left-hand drive SUV along South Church Street from town to Red Bay where she (fortunately) turned off. At first she was driving perfectly well but then she slowed down to 20mph and her car was going left onto the hard shoulder and then right overthe white line in the middle of the road. This behaviour continued round Hurleys roundabout, mid-rush hour traffic and on until she turned left at Red Bay. As I passed her as she slowed to take her turn, she was clearly sat there sending a text message on her Blackberry. Even as she was taking her turn her head was down and looking at that phone screen, clearly paying no attention to the road. Wish they coulda got her.
It takes a while to break an old habit. Not to mention it is so easy to pick your phone up, feeling quite justified at the “importance” of the call or text, and think you will get away with it. Folks let’s look at the bright side for a moment: the law is not only keeping us and our loved ones safe… But there could be (I am resisting the purchase of a headset), could FINALLY be somewhere to escape from the constant demand of being so dang available ALL the time. Truth be told, I am all too happy to tell folks, “sorry” but it’s illegal for me to talk right now because I am driving. Then I can enjoy some precious quietness and solitude. And save $150!
How important some would like to appear to be, it is all totally unnecessary. – seems more desperate than important!
Turn it off, put in bag, put music on…wonderful!
Need to include drivers who put opaque plastic over their license plates. What is the point?
don't ask awkward questions…they might have to ticket some of their friends………zzzzzzzzzzzz
OK lets see, 45 people out of fifty thousand? Not too shabby I'd say. McKeeva will soon be able to (truthfully) report a surplus at that rate. Can the cops say how many of those folks were wasting their time calling to report a burglary? Those 45 unlucky folks have surely learned just how very serious the cops are when it comes to controlling criminal activity in our country.
The enforcement is quite laughable as only this past Friday I drove from the Compass to Galleria Plaza and counted 26 people visibly on their cell phones!!!!
I have also witnessed a uniformed RCIP drive into an On the Run Esso in his private vehicleand as I stood watching and listening, it was evident it was NOT police business.
One would think the RCIP's should lead by example with this law.
Is it valid also for police officers off duty????