St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN)—With the biggest party in sports, the Caribbean Premier League set to bowl into town later this week, the Royal St Christopher and Nevis Police Force is once again urging the public to drink responsibly and never drive while intoxicated.
The Federation is preparing to host the home leg of the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, but the game is expected to draw large crowds and a party atmosphere where alcohol consumption will be high.
Superintendent Bradshaw, Head of the Traffic Department, appealed while speaking on Buenafem’s identity programme.
“Once we observe the traffic officers observe any drunken personnel, we will deal with them accordingly. It will not be the first time we deal with persons who are under the influence of alcohol and driving, so we know what to do.”
The discussion comes against the backdrop of a growing number of road accidents which have become a major concern for the police force in recent times.
“How would you deal with me? Would you put me on the breathalyser test there and then? Would you carry me to the station? Would you take a blood test? It still depends on the situation. If any officer because it’s we have a responsibility to the public so any officer sees any drunken person going to a vehicle, right, and they have in possession the keys, they have the right to arrest that person. They have choices: you could arrest and follow through by taking the person to the hospital to be tested. Let them sleep it out. Let them sleep it out, and this is the body system coming into play. You know you’re going out to line, especially CPL. I love CPL, so if I’m going out to line and I’ll be having whatever drinks, I would have somebody to drive. You must be responsible enough to make that decision and not go out and then cause an accident. You might not even be the person who caused the accident, but a simple touch from another vehicle could make you lose control, and you could lose your life. You don’t have to be wrong to get in an accident. Well said.”
The superintendent stressed the importance of knowing your limits, noting that the legal alcohol limit remains 0.08% on the breathalyser test.
He also addressed the use of breathalyser testing, which he said is currently on pause as officers undergo additional training. No date has yet been set for its return.
“Well, we had the training a couple of months back, and we have several breathalyser machines. However, we have not been utilising them because we wanted to do some refreshers. After the refreshers, then we’ll be utilising them. Any prospective timeline? By December for carnival or whatever? Hopefully. So you realise I’m kind of nice and swagging and the wind blowing. You come and say, let’s go to the hospital, or however you do whatever you say. You take me to the hospital, and I’m above 0.08. Why is 0.08 not? Yeah, well, it’s 0.08 that is the amount of alcohol. Is it the blood per litre? Yeah. But that amount is enough to cause. That’s nothing. Well, it appears to be nothing, but that much is how much it takes to cause your body to be impaired. Whether it be your vision, the way you talk or the movements. So if I’m talking nice and how you guys doing and we had a good time.”
While penalties are set out in law for driving under the influence, Bradshaw noted that the final sentence is at the discretion of the magistrate.
“The penalties for that are that the magistrate can either send you to prison or charge you a fine or both. Wow. And driving under the influence, the magistrate can suspend your licence as well for a period of time. It depends on the discretion of the magistrate. Because we, the police, and your consent can draw blood. What if you give consent? I would say if I refuse, what happens? You refuse. You can’t. You’re on the blood. You can still be charged for that offence for the for the offence. Because you refused to present the blood for testing. Okay. That is an offence. Well, I guess that’s like in the track and field if you miss an appointment for drug testing, it will be assumed that you’re guilty. Yes. And that is something written, so that’s something in the law as well. So if the police stop you and realise that your speech is slurred and to the officer you appear drunk, and the officer smells alcohol. Suppose you throw a mission. If the officer notices all that observes all that all that symptoms, all of that. Let’s go to the hospital. I mean, I think to the hospital. The officer takes you into custody and goes to the hospital. But I don’t want to. Could I have a choice in going to the hospital or not, or is it just drawing blood? No, the officer would arrest you. Okay. Right. But he would have to take you to the hospital. Oh, and I have to give consent whether I want you to draw the blood. And if you refuse to give consent, the officer can charge you. So the blood can only be drawn by them. We are not authorised to do that. So we do take it to the professionals. Do the professionals do that? Via the law. First-time offenders are taken to court. First-time offenders who are taken to court for driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or anything in such a way are fined two thousand dollars or 11 months in prison. That’s for first-time offenders. If it’s the second time offenders, it’s a fine of four thousand dollars. And two years in prison. Or you can have both.”
Meanwhile, the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots will be in action on Thursday evening at Warner Park, where they will take on the Jamaica Kingsmen from 7 p.m. While thousands are expected to attend, motorists are also being advised to take note of traffic restrictions that will be in place around the stadium.
