Police Intensifies Roadside Checks: Cops Nab 64 Drunk Drivers

A comprehensive review of road safety is underway across the country, with multiple police checkpoints set up by various units of the police force. The focus is on checking for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, as well as other traffic violations such as not wearing seatbelts.

The operation, which began on Monday morning, July 1, is aiming to improve road safety and prevent accidents.

According to the Traffic Branch, the operations are being conducted normally, with police officers stationed on both sides of the road in the Petite-Rivière region stopping vehicles at random.

However, Defi Media’s sources suggested that the intensified police presence on the roads may be linked to the adoption of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill by the National Assembly on June 25, which aims to strengthen road safety laws.

Although officials from the Traffic Branch insisted that the roadblocks are not specifically linked to the amendments, the increased police presence on the roads cannot be ignored.

In Port-Louis, central police stations confirmed that over the weekend, police officers arrested 64 motorists for drunk driving and seven others for positive drug tests.

The Traffic Branch and Emergency Response Service (ERS) are working together to ensure that drivers respect traffic laws.

The police are conducting a series of operations across the country, with regular stops at specific points during the night to check for compliance with traffic regulations.

These checkpoints are strategically placed in areas with high traffic volumes and where accidents are more likely to occur.

The police are using these checkpoints to verify various aspects of driver compliance, including blood alcohol levels, valid driver’s licenses, vehicle insurance, and general vehicle condition.

The checks are conducted randomly, but often in areas with high traffic volumes and during times when traffic violations are more likely to occur.

According to Defi Media’s police source, who chose to remain anonymous, the increased police presence on the roads is aimed at two main objectives: allowing new recruits to perform “street duties” and issue fines for traffic offenses, and verbalizing drivers who put other road users’ lives at risk by disregarding road safety rules.

All types of vehicles, including motorcycles, cars, and buses, are being targeted. The same scenario is playing out in the capital city, where motorcycle police are also involved in the operation.

Every aspect of a vehicle is being scrutinized by police officers, including registration plates, seatbelt use, declarations and insurance documents, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Source: Defi Media