Police net 248 drunk drivers so far this year
(CNS): Another seven people were added to the growing number of drunks caught behind the wheel on Cayman’s roads this weekend. Police officers have arrested 248 drivers for drinking and driving since the start of 2015, about 150 more than in the entire twelve months of 2014. In one of the arrests, a 47-year-old man was arrested for driving whilst disqualified as well as DUI.
Police said that altogether this weekend, six men and one woman, aged between 18 and 53, were arrested by RCIPS officers in George Town on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.
The roads have claimed the lives of ten people so far this year in what is turning out to be one of the worst years for road fatalities and serious accidents. Police are planning another major traffic crackdown as drivers do not appear be heeding warnings about following the rules of the road and putting safety first.
RCIPS Traffic Statistics
Problem is with your logic is that I am not the one drinking to excess! I am lucky if I have one drink with dinner. I am worried about the drunk drivers on the roads and by reading this site- there are alot of them. Second- also by reading this site, I do not believe it is that safe for a woman to walk “my lazy butt” to my destination. I have been travelling to GC for over 12 years and at first I used to walk everywhere even late at night…then I used to drive and now, I am not sure I want to do either. I still love your island, but really have doubts about renting a car or walking after dark. Once again, just my opinion and I see by my first post, others (16 at the moment) agree with me. A bus service or trolley would be a nice for the SMB area.
Yes but not one bloke or lad who lives or is a regular in the local Pub aaaah the lucky few in these islands eh!!!!
You may feel that a taxi is not expensive to and from locations on SMB, but I think $10 each way plus tip (or approx. $20. added to each night) certainly adds up and that is if I do not head to more than one destination in one night and if the fee is just $10. each direction. Some times I could throw a stone and get to my destination and the taxi charges $10. I personally feel the fees are quite high. Just my opinion.
You’re lucky if you can get a taxi for $10
Miami min fare = $2.50 for first 1/6 mile. Additional $2.40 for next 1/6 mile plus $0.40 per 1/6 mile. That’s $5.30 to go 1/8th of a mile.
In both places there is no snow and rarely any rain, so you could walk your lazy drunk butt to your destination in under 5 minutes for free, or forgo one additional glass of wine and pay the fare (and feel good supporting local operators).
Nobody is entitled to more wine because they don’t like cab fares! Nobody complains about paying $15 for a $5 glass of wine either! Sheesh.
So you think $20 for transport home is too high after a night out. How stupid are you, that equate to about 4 drinks these days. Compare it to the potential cost of a drunk driving accident or just a conviction.
– no insurance if you damage your vehicle
– big fine if convicted and then you would be paying a hell of a lot more on taxis
– criminal record inhibiting your ability to travel and get certain jobs
– heaven forbid you kill someone and then face manslaughter charges and prison
Suggest you rethink your logic.
I am willing to bet that those numbers are incorrect. All that is happening is Baines is trying to justify his mismanagement as it relates to the traffic unit being gone. Baines has missed his calling he should have been a politician
whats the point of catching them if they don’t ever go to trial ?
I have been waiting for the outcome of a dept head who hit a person almost 2 years ago while drunk driving and leaving the scene
perhaps they are waiting for the victim to be rolled over
It only goes to show the diligence of RCIPS when it comes to drunk drivers arrest but yet there are other crimes which needs more critical attention than a traffic violations… Where is the attentiveness with the murders and robberies?
There is clearly a gulf between the number of traffic offenses being committed and the number successfully ticketed by our loafing RCIPS. Only one DUI for the whole month of June 2015 speaks volumes about how they approach their duties. This is genuinely awful.
What am I supposed to do? I was too drunk to walk….
I am on my way down for a holiday and I really wish there was an alternative to renting a car or taking a very expensive taxi to get myself home from a night out. I do not drink to excess, but I do not want to drive late at night as I am concerned to be out on the road with others who do. Even just having a rental car parked in a “club” parking lot and getting banged up is an area of concern. I have even considered just walking home as the places I would go to are not far from the hotel, but I am not even sure that is a safe alternative now-a-days. A late night bus service or a trolley up and down the beach area would be a wonderful alternative for tourists and I am sure locals who probably have the same issues, but on a more frequent basis. Just my 2 cents.
Cabs are not expensive from and to locations on SMB.
The text of the story notes that 248 arrests have been made for DUI since the start of 2015, the spreadsheet suggests that the number is 50. Is 50 simply those arrests that have made it as far as convictions? If so, how long does it take to come to trial?
Kudos to RCIPS for this initiative! DUI is a morally reprehensible act; also driving while texting.
That’s not even one function at the Ritz, pretty dreadful if I may say so.
Not figures to be proud of. How can you account for the gas that is being consumed? How can you commend under achievers?
I know many will argue that people should have a designated driver budget for a taxi. And while I agree, I still believe a better public transport system such as proper buses running late would help bring down the duis. It might also help traffic. And I say this not because I drink and drive, I want it because I don’t want to be the one killed by someone else drinking.
Enabling full-fledged alcoholic campaigns with a convenient late night vomit bus, merely provides a delivery mechanism for partiers back to the vehicle they stashed at their friend’s pre-party (the one on the bus route and beyond seasonal police check), for a few more “night-caps” and on to their collision in neighboring district. There is very little (sober) traffic at these hours.
We NEVER see the names of convicted DUI drivers in the media: why?
Sorry: should have said “seldom”.
Mo
Rolston was the last one
And a few of the ones before that?
Big props to the RCIP………..NOT. That is roughly 27 a month and I would venture to guess that a lot of these arrested and caught are during some kind of campaign, which means that they are not catching people on most days of the week. Astounding given the amount of cars and Officers they have. Poor performance on all fronts.
50 DUI’s in six months! 50! I see that many leaving one bar on one night sometimes. Come on RCIP!
And what of those that are caught? I know one “friend” who crashed whilst DUI. He got a short ban and is now back to driving again…and drink-driving again. No change. He crashed whilst drunk!
And how many people have had criminal convictions for having killed someone whilst behind the wheel? How many? Having killed passengers, friends and relatives, third party drivers, kids, walkers, cyclists, joggers?
F&*%$ all chance of being caught and f&^$ all consequences once caught. National Disgrace #22.
Can’t they read their own stats? The unimaginably large number of those driving around while disqualified/unlicensed would suggest that it is “common place” or “worth the risk of being discovered” owing to the complete absence of patrols and lack of deterrence or consequences at the hand of RCIPS. Look at the leap in anarchy from 2014 to 2015!
That’s it? I passed that many on my way home from happy hour last Friday.
At this rate the traffic on the roads should be much lighter in the new year. Keep it up RCIPS!
I am surprised to see the reduction in the “Using Mobil phones whilst driving” I would guess about one in four cars I see have the driver talking on a cell phone. This needs to be addressed.
maybe the should arrest some robbing taxi drivers as well if they want to see the DUI levels drop!
Maybe drinkers should budget for a safe ride home as part of their night out?
Taxi drivers working the late hours deal with intoxicated passengers who don’t want to pay the government approved fare. Don’t like the fare? Then don’t drink so much so you can be sober to drive yourself home. Take turns being the designated driver. Or just plain take responsibility for your own drunken self.
When you loose your drivers license you will get to know many cab drivers and appreciate them more and learn to respect the privilege you once had of driving. It’s not a right. Hopefully nobody gets hurt or killed due to your selfish alcoholism. Know yourself, plan ahead and get a DD. No excuse for anyone to plan to DUI from any event. If you think that way, you have a problem with alcohol and need a reality check, not cheaper cab fares.
But can’t get convictions on murderers!
I assume their license has been suspended immediately?
Not until proven guilty in a court of law. That is how the system works. it may seem frustrating but it is the way the system works.
You loose it right away. Ask me how I know.
Yes, though many continue to drive while disqualified.
The court has to decide that, muppet. Its called the justice system. If people like you were running it, we would all be convicted just because you are in a foul mood. Constantly I suspect.
Those that don’t turn in their license immediately should have additional bans in the event of a a conviction. The position is now so bad that a month or two in jail is needed to correct a deep-rooted problem.
With a profound understanding of how infrequent the RCIPS traffic stops actually are, look at the alarming number of people caught driving without a license or while disqualified. Whether or not someone has a piece of plastic in their pocket seems to have no bearing at all on their willingness to drive around crashing into things/people. Insurance? Coupon? DL surrendered from DUI? There is no consistent effort to correct this anarchy.