By Landing Ceesay
The Mobile Traffic Unit of the Gambia Police Force has impounded more than 70 vehicles in Brikama, West Coast Region, for lacking proper documentation.
This enforcement initiative forms part of the ongoing efforts by the Gambia Police Force to clamp down on vehicles flouting Motor Traffic Regulations, aimed at curbing the rising fatality rate from road accidents.
Addressing reporters at the Gambia Police Force Brikama Station, Commissioner Lamin King Colley of the Mobile Traffic Unit highlighted that many drivers involved in hit-and-run incidents lack the necessary documentation for their vehicles, thus violating the Motor Traffic Regulations Act.
“Most of the vehicles committing accidents, particularly fatalities, will just abscond. They will not stand—what we call hit-and-run. People around that area cannot find them out because they are normally without number plates for their vehicles. So, basically, that’s why we started this operation last week.
“There was a long weekend, and we renewed it today in Brikama. As you can see in the background, so far, so good. We have impounded 50 motor vehicles here at the Brikama Police Station and 18 motor vehicles at Madina Salangdingoto. All these vehicles either have one number plate in front, no number plate behind, or one number plate behind and no number plate in front. Which is in contravention of Section 25(A) of the Motor Traffic Regulations Act,” Commissioner Colley told reporters.
Commissioner Colley specified the relevant law clauses in the Motor Traffic Regulations Act that have been violated by the drivers of the impounded vehicles.
He firmly stated that the impounded vehicles would remain within the Brikama Police premises until they met all documentation requirements.
“Section 25 (A), I will repeat so that the Gambian people will know, and I always keep on repeating this. It says a person shall not cause or permit another person to drive a motor vehicle without a number plate being fixed to it. A person who contravenes that subsection commits an offence. A fine not more than D20, 000 and not less than D10,000, and in default, two years imprisonment with hard labour.
“It doesn’t stop there; it says the Police shall keep the vehicle under Its custody unless and until that vehicle number remains unfixed, and the owner of the vehicle shall also pay D100 to the Police. No vehicle is leaving here without fixing the number plate; that’s number one. Number two, after fixing the number plate, we will arrange for you to appear in court for violating Section 25(A) of the Motor Traffic Regulations Act.
Moreover, Commissioner Colley reassured the public that any driver found to be unqualified and in possession of a driver’s license would be stripped of their driving privileges.
Thank God this year, 2024, the total issuance of licenses is now handled by the Police. So we will see a total deduction of licenses from people who are not capable of driving and are issued with driver’s licenses.
Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Police Cadet, ASP Momodou Sisawo, assured the media that the operation would be rigorously enforced. He emphasized the Gambia Police Force’s commitment to minimize road traffic accidents in the country