A soldier in the T&T Defence Force was arrested and charged with two traffic offences on Tuesday, after being stopped by officers of the T&T Transit Police who were on patrol along the Priority Bus Route in Arouca.
According to police reports, around 9.45 am, the officers were patrolling along the PBR in an unmarked police vehicle that was equipped with lights and a siren. The officers saw a blue Toyota Corolla heading east along the PBR, having entered the PBR from the Bon Air traffic light along the Eastern Main Road. The officers subsequently stopped the vehicle near Bacaday Road.
The officers then asked the occupant for his driver’s permit and certificate of insurance.
The driver reportedly responded, “Officer, my DP in camp, officer all ah we is one, officer I just come out de road to buy a tank of gas.”
A certificate of insurance was subsequently produced by the driver but when the officer asked him for his permit, he reportedly said, “Officer I real sorry, officer I sorry.”
When the officers subsequently checked the driver’s information, they realised he was a soldier from Santa Cruz. However, he had been disqualified from driving for a period of one year, which was set to expire next year.
The driver was later taken to the Transit Police headquarters where he was charged by WPC Jacob with driving without a valid certificate of insurance and driving while disqualified. The soldier is expected to appear virtually in court later this week.