Speed radar signs will not issue tickets; cameras have a reach beyond 500ft – Traffic Chief

As authorities gear up to introduce the Automated Speed Ticketing System on Monday, Traffic Chief Assistant Commissioner Mahendra Singh has clarified that the only devices that will be responsible for recording an offence and issuing tickets are the cameras situated overhead along various roadways.

The speed radar signs, which alert drivers of their speed, are only intended to serve as a “traffic calming measure”, he explained. These signs, he further noted, is to alert drivers of their speed so they can make the necessary adjustments, if they are exceeding the speed limit.

“There should be no confusion with the speed cameras and the speed radar signs. One is a traffic calming measure and one addresses specifically that offence of exceeding the speeding limit,” the traffic chief explained during an interview on Radio Eve Leary, a radio station associated with the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

Some of the cameras are situated on the Heroes Highway closer to the Eagle Roundabout, the East Bank of Demerara Public Road at Covent Garden, the East Coast Public Road in the vicinity of MovieTowne, and the Schoonord four-lane Road on the West Coast of Demerara.

The Traffic Chief noted that these cameras have a reach of beyond 500ft. This means that it can detect if a motorist is speeding from beyond 500ft away.

Under the new automated speed ticketing system, once a violation is recorded, a ticket will be generated immediately. If the driver’s contact details are registered with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), they will receive a notification via SMS and email.

However, in cases where contact details are unavailable, a physical ticket will be mailed to the vehicle owner’s registered address. The process will be fully automated, eliminating the need for manual ticketing and ensuring that enforcement remains fair and free from human interference.

The Traffic Chief has explained that in cases where the owner of the vehicle was not the driver at the time the offence was committed, he/she will have the opportunity to contest the ticket in court. In those cases, the court would then prepare a summons for the driver of the vehicle at the time of the offence.