Police warn drivers about drink and drugs
(CNS): Following another weekend rounding up rogue drivers, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service is warning the public that they could find themselves in serious trouble if they use alcohol or drugs and then get in their car. Police made five arrests for DUI alone over the weekend as well as finding drivers under the influence of drugs. “Choosing to drive while under the influence of either alcohol or drugs is a decision that can cost you in more ways than one,” said Inspector Ian Yearwood of the Traffic and Roads Policing Unit.
“You risk being involved in a collision where your vehicle is damaged or destroyed, receiving injuries, or causing the death of another road user or yourself. In addition, if caught driving under the influence of alcohol you will lose your licence for a minimum of 12 months,” he added.
Police noted some of the more serious incidents this weekend: On Friday, 14 September, at around 11pm officers on patrol on Shedden Road came upon a traffic collision at the intersection of North Sound Road. A silver BMW and a black Honda Fit had collided. The officers spoke to the drivers of both vehicles and detected the scent of alcohol on the breath of the driver of the Honda Fit. They also learned that the insurance and registration of the Honda Fit were both expired.
A roadside breath test was conducted and the driver, a woman aged 29 of George Town, was arrested on suspicion of DUI with a reading of 0.105%, driving without insurance and using a vehicle with expired registration. She was later bailed.
Then on Monday, 17 September, at around 2am officers on patrol on Walkers Road stopped a grey Honda Fit, and as the officers spoke to the driver they detected the scent of ganja coming from the car. A search of the driver and the vehicle turned up a container with several packets of suspected cocaine.
The man, aged 30 of George Town, was arrested on suspicion of possession and consumption of ganja, possession of cocaine with intent to supply, and consumption of cocaine. He remains in police custody as investigations continue.
The Cayman Islands doesn’t yet have any Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol THC-A impairment guidance, nor roadside saliva test kits. Colorado/Washington THC-A driving limit is 5ng/mL. Nevada/Canada (draft) is 2ng. Germany is 1ng. Uruguay is zero. Elsewhere, if you fail the roadside saliva tests, you generally must submit to a blood sample at a station. Impairment is impairment, except, it seems, in those places where no laws exist.
In 2015, the NHTSA discovered that in fatal roadside accidents, drugs were present in 43% of victims, versus alcohol in 37% It was the first time impairment from drug use exceeded alcohol impairment since records began. In the year after Colorado’s legalization of Marijuana, roadside fatalities that tested positive for THC went up 145% In 2016, of the 115 drivers in Colorado fatal wrecks who tested positive for marijuana use, 71 were found to have THC in their blood, indicating use within hours. Of those, 63 percent were >5ng.
Clearly, there is a public safety hazard we should be talking about, and updating the Traffic Law and Regulations.
I’d like CIG to grow a set, accept ride sharing reduces DUI’s, and stop the open extortion from the taxi cartels.
Anonymous at 1.42 pm: it happened to me last year, that a police car drove through Savannah at night at very high speed but with no warning lights, just as I was exiting my driveway. I was astonished their training didn’t prohibit them (apparently) from driving like this. It was more dangerous than when the driver of an illegal dirt-bike did the same thing, pulling a wheelie at night with no lights and wearing black clothing, just as I was about to turn out of my driveway into Savannah high street. I’m lucky still to be here. The only reason we didn’t collide was I had lowered my window to use my ears. This saved one suicidal idiot and possibly myself, from being killed.
Can anyone explain why the police on the Brac don’t seem to follow any of these initiatives? Drink driving here is at epic proportions there and no one ever seems to get stopped and tested…
when you smoke mary-jane … you are above the influence, not under …
So many lives can be saved from this. Don’t drink and drive peeps.
Drinking and driving is just as bad as using the phrase “peeps”
Blood alcohol concentration has a set legal limit. You can drink alcohol and drive but if you’re caught driving under the influence and exceed this limit then you’re committing a crime. Similarly cannabis should have this same format seeing as the c.i.g has changed the misuse of drugs law to allow the consumption of cannabis to be legal (for the people who can afford it at least).
Fine ill leave my drugs at home, smh
Moscato and Mary Jane in my backyard. No DUI here! Unfortunately one is legal and makes me throw up, while the other is illegal and medicates me.
It seems this Honda is not fit for purpose.
Excellent work RCIP. This is a continuing massive problem for this island without all the other crime here. Let’s get these low life’s off the road. It’s a pity that their vehicles aren’t confiscated for this serious offence. I can guarantee they’d think twice next time of getting behind that wheel fuelled with drink/drugs!
a police car passed me very fast on linford dunn highway an hr ago…i was doing 40 mph…they didnt have siren or lights on??? who is looking at them huh???eh