Cops’ new radar kits net 5 times more road racers
(CNS): Cayman drivers were involved in 462 crashes in the first half of this year, and while that was a drop compared to the same period in 2014, six people have died on the road so far in 2015. With the failure to wear a seatbelt and speeding the main reason why road users lose their lives, the RCIPS has invested in radar equipment, which resulted in five times as many speeding tickets being issued. $19,000 is earmarked in this financial year’s budget for more radar kits.
The RCIPS pointed out that there was a 15% decrease in the number of traffic accidents compared to last year, but with no deaths on the road in Cayman in the first half of 2014, the six fatalities this year indicates that while there are fewer accidents on the road, there were more deadly ones.
Speeders accounted for the significant increase in citations, as police issued almost 600 speeding tickets to drivers on the road so far this year, a 120% increase on tickets in the first half of 2014. Although there was a decline in the number of people ticketed for not wearing a seatbelt, Cayman drivers are still not buckling up when they get behind the wheel and 183 people were fined for this during the first six months of the year.
Economic hardship for many may also account for a 66% increase in people using vehicles without being licensed. Drinking and driving declined during the first half of 2015 compared to last year, with policing bagging just 50 drivers for being over the booze limit versus the 86 arrested last year. The number of tickets issued for drivers using a phone when behind the wheel also fell slightly by around 5%, but police still ticketed over 372 people in just six months, the second most common offence after speeding.
Category: Local News
Can’t something be done about the idiotic dirt bike riders doing stunts on our roads.
Radar Kits? Wow -I thought it was alien cosmic rays making me drive fast…next time I drive will cover myself in foil, gets ’em every time…
I have no problem with the police doing their job, and catching some of these lunatics on the road. They should however have to provide proof on the scene, that in fact you have broken a law. I was stopped once, and charged with speeding, when I know it was in fact not myself, but another car that had passed me. When I seen the blue light flashing behind me, I actually laughed to myself, and said they got you now mate, only to be pulled over myself. His word against mine in court after that, and no point in fighting it.
I know in the UK, any unit set up to catch speeders, has to be visible from a certain distance, or in fact they are not legal. Wouldn’t surprise me if this is being overlooked by our local constabulary, and they are just chancing it. I may be wrong, and the law could be different here??
If everyone remembers. Judge Henderson paved the way for speeders to speed. The kid that speed away from police, the police chased him. He crashed and died out east end. And the family sued the police force in civil court. That paved the way, for speeders to speed. Now police can’t give chase if it’s deemed unsafe. Because the police can now be sued, all the family has to do, is claim their dead relative, would not have speed if not being chased by the police.
THAT is the reason why police cannot do their jobs.
Stop making excuses! Economic hardships does not justify for someone to break the law!!! This is exactly why the country is in the mess it is in. Where do you draw the line and how do you ascertain whether a person really has suffered economic hardships or whether a person is just too lazy or has priorities screwed? If you can’t afford to drive a car, you just don’t drive it!!! I certainly don’t want anyone who doesn’t have a license and insurance to hit my car and then have me left with picking up the tap.
Welcome to 2015 and may I suggest that instead of investing in more radar kits (and in order to avoid public claiming that they are not consistently used or only as revenue earners), invest in permanently installed speed traps strategically placed throughout various locations such as South Sound, Savannah etc where speeding is rampant.
The way this works typically is after a while drivers can’t be bothered with the speeding, slowing down to get through the traps, speeding up again etc and are more likely to travel at a speed within the limits.
It also removes the need for a person to be there and hold or monitor the laser gun……You just collect the data once a week or once a month and issue the tickets. Tickets not paid within a timely manner result in daily penalties and a license can not be renewed until those penalties have been settled in full.
Those speed traps have been used in other countries for the last 20 years!
I too suspect that radar traps have been used as a revenue earner here and that their use had not been consistent.
Additionally it would be interesting to see the traffic laws view on these devices with regards their correct calibration. Years ago I had the misfortune to be caught by one on the bypass and knowing that certainly in the UK the police have to provide evidence that the device was properly calibrated I asked the policeman if that was the case. His reply was ‘ well that’s what I will say in court’. On that basis if the law allows I would suspect with a good lawyer anyone caught could challenge the penalty. Maybe worth knowing.
I suspect that people who consistently travel within the speed limits should have nothing to worry about………but as is typical on this blog, people want it both ways. They want the laws to be enforced, but not applied to them!
if you got caught once and you suspect that the equipment was not used correctly, can you not write it off as a mistake and be glad that the police may actually catch the ones who drive like idiots and therefore make the roads saver for everyone rather than challenging the entire system?
So you would be happy if the copper nicked you for doing 42/43/44 in a 40 zone but couldn’t prove that the radar gun was accurate but that as far as he was concerned and his buddies would back him up that you broke the law? That was my point. If speed traps are going to be used they have to be consistent in their use, properly placed and not subject to a policemans word that they are correct.
It is my opinion that RCIPS uses speed traps as a revenue earner. I base that on my observation (and experience) that the sneaky radar cars are more evident near the end of any given month. They should review the policy being instated in some US states/counties making it illegal to use speed traps solely as revenue earning measures.
BTW, with no Traffic Department, to whom does the speed trap officers report? Are their citations even legal? CNS, is this something you can enquire from RCIPS, please?
Totally agree. It would be OK if they are out catching crazy speeders but to hide just behind the road sign where the speed changes from 40 to 25 then catch someone as soon as they pass the sign is downright sneaky and out of order. Then they wonder why we have no respect for the police…
Or you could just obey the law and stop fussing about things that don’t affect you.
This shows 2 things. For the most part, economic changes have resulted in more burglaries and attempted burglaries and the second is that police are still focusing more on drug offenses and traffic violations than serious crimes.
Now how many convictions did we get
Feel free to have blacked out windows an number plates though, no problemo!
Deploy those radar kits in Savannah near the school and on west bound Shamrock Road (Spotts Straight) any morning and they’ll pay for the new kits in next to no time.
Also in the same location can RCIPS enforce the requirement that vehicle use the left lane for everything except overtaking and turning right?
Loving the new stats info coming through articles. Good work CNS