Garth RattrayTHE APRIL 14 piece by Gleaner staff reporter Glenroy Sinclair titled "Hi-tech ticketing system to come in two weeks" got my attention and has me revisiting a pet peeve of mine.
It outlined plans for instituting a system of driver surveillance and ticketing that would not only assist the police in executing outstanding warrants for traffic offences but also in keeping track of those with accumulated points. The piece makes mention of the corrupt practices of some policemen and that the new system will enable the constabulary to monitor itself.
I must emphasise that the vast majority of policemen and women are hard working, self-sacrificial Jamaicans, who risk their lives to protect, serve and reassure. But the actions of a few cops leave road users unfairly believing that many are corrupt. The ticketing system places far too much emphasis on exorbitant fines and demerit points yet does nothing to re-educate and reform wayward road users.
The government seems very interested in collecting the revenue generated from traffic fines but it has demonstrated little innovation in stemming our high rate of motor vehicle accidents and road fatalities.
A FEW ROGUE COPS
Because of this, a few rogue cops take advantage of the system to siphon off what they can for themselves. They give motorists the choice of being slapped with hefty state-imposed fines and points or paying a lighter "fine" and maintaining a clean record.
Consequently, motorists constantly play cat and mouse games with the police by signalling one another about speed traps and checkpoints. They study the usual spots where the police set themselves up and go to great lengths to circumvent them.
A police sergeant once stopped me and told me that he only did it because he and his companion were thirsty. On another occasion, two young officers armed with a radar gun tried to bluff me into believing that I was speeding on the Norman Manley Highway.
They stopped me and with arms akimbo began berating me about excessive speed. Fully aware that I was not speeding and realising what they were up to, I asked them to tell me exactly how fast I was going.
Having no answer to my demand, they waved me on. A friend of mine was a passenger in a car when they were stopped and told that they were speeding.
The cop made a big deal over the cost of the ticket and went to great pains to explain the number of points that would be placed against the driver's licence. He then asked her what she could do for herself. The driver gave him $1,500 and went on her way. This sort of thing happens everyday.
It has always been my opinion that if we are to save lives and adequately attack the problem of Road Code violations and traffic police corruption, we need to appoint members of the public as undercover road deputies (sentinels) that have legal standing in Traffic Court.
They would move unnoticed in the traffic and be able to observe and report on violations. They would be armed with radios to call ahead to designated roadside police posts.
The police would then intercept and ticket the offender. Sentinels could also participate in sting operations to expose policemen that extort motorists.
FANCY HI-TECH STUFF
All this fancy hi-tech stuff is fine and certainly addressees the essential need to adequately track motorists but it won't detect the madmen who overtake dangerously or swerve at high speed from lane to lane imperilling the lives of everyone.
It won't see idiots accelerating through red lights or bus drivers racing each other for the next passenger. It won't be there when a rogue cop asks you how you can "help yourself", tells you to "see what you can do for yourself" or uses his power to solicit "drink money".
Fines are one thing but we desperately need to institute driver's education classes for people found to be in breach of the road rules.
We already know that many drivers acquired their licences illegally, these classes would teach them about the traffic laws and weed out those who are driving cars, buses and even heavy-duty trucks while illiterate.
Dr Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice.
