A Sangre Grande magistrate yesterday imposed $43,000 in fines on nine drivers who appeared in court on drunken driving charges.The drivers, who all are residents of east Trinidad, pleaded guilty when they appeared before Magistrate Andrew Stroude in the Third Court.The drivers included David Jattan, Nicholas Basse, Alistar Charles, Marlon Charles, Tyriston Wilson, Ramsay Ramroop and Ian Byron.
The all received fines which ranged from $3,000 to $7,000, based on their level of intoxication at the time they were administered a breathalyser test.Under the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, the legal alcohol limit while driving is given as 35 microgrammes of alcohol for every 100 millitres of breath.First-time offenders face a maximum fine of $8,000 or up to three years' imprisonment.
The drivers were all caught in a road traffic exercise which was conducted last weekend by officers of the Sangre Grande CID, led by ASP Neville Sankar and Sgt Ken Lutchman.In a interview yesterday, Sankar appealed to drivers to refrain from drinking while driving, especially during the upcoming Christmas season.
"Exercise similar to this one will be conducted every weekend," he said."Sangre Grande police are a taking zero tolerance approach to drunken driving in this district."The exercise also included Cpl Randy Banwarie and PCs Kishan Sankar and Singh. (DA)