THE Guyana Police Force Traffic Department has intensified enforcement against the illegal installation and use of sirens on privately owned motor vehicles, with a law enforcement officer, a large-scale mining operator and a contractor among persons recently detected with the devices.
The Traffic Headquarters said the vehicles were examined by Licence and Certifying Officers, following which the unauthorised devices were removed and lodged to be produced as evidence in court.
The drivers were subsequently provided with court dates as the Traffic Department steps up enforcement against what it described as a persistent breach of the country’s traffic regulations.
The crackdown comes amid renewed concerns about the use of emergency-type sirens and warning devices by persons who are not authorised to operate them.
The Guyana Police Force has previously warned that sirens are intended for authorised emergency vehicles and their misuse can undermine the effectiveness of genuine emergency warnings on the road.
The department said repeated warnings and public-awareness efforts over the years have been aimed at discouraging motorists from installing or using such devices on private vehicles.
It has now reiterated that the practice will not be overlooked and that motorists found in breach will face enforcement action.
The Traffic Department’s latest operation also highlights the role of Licence and Certifying Officers in examining vehicles and ensuring that unauthorised equipment is removed.
The GPF maintains Traffic Headquarters as its central traffic-enforcement facility, with the department responsible for addressing a range of road-traffic offences and promoting compliance with traffic laws.
The Force’s Road Traffic Code provides motorists with rules governing the safe operation and equipment of vehicles, while the GPF’s traffic enforcement includes offences such as speeding, driving under the influence, illegal tinting, traffic-light violations and siren misuse.
The police have stressed that motorists should not treat the use of emergency-type equipment as a privilege associated with status or occupation.
The latest cases involving individuals from different occupational backgrounds underscore the department’s position that enforcement will be based on compliance with the regulations rather than a person’s profession.
Traffic authorities are therefore warning motorists to remove any unauthorised sirens or similar devices from private vehicles and to comply with the applicable traffic laws to avoid prosecution.
The GPF has indicated that enforcement against illegal siren use will continue as part of its wider efforts to improve road discipline and safety.
