A Point Fortin alderman was among 18 people who appeared before Magistrate Andrew Stroude on Tuesday, charged with driving under the influence. Alderman Peter Bharath and the others appeared in a Tunapuna Magistrates' Court. Bharath, who pleaded guilty, was fined $3,500 to pay in two days.
The other 17 people were ordered to pay fines fines totalling $60,500. The drivers were caught during a roadblock exercise along the Caura Royal Road between 4 and 8 pm on Monday. Insp Francis Joseph, Sgt Mark Maraj, Cpl Leo Simon and WPCs Roxanne McChinea and Hazel Lewis of the Tunapuna Police Station took part in the exercise.