The National Assembly on Monday passed the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2022 to promote and enforce safe driving in Guyana.
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC emphasised the causal relationship between drunk driving and the high number of road fatalities, dubbing the bill as a timely law-making intervention to address a “chronic” problem.
The bill introduces the offence of motor manslaughter, where a person causes the death of another by driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of a drink or drug to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the vehicle. It also provides penalties for causing grievous bodily harm while driving under the influence of alcohol or a drug.
The bill also imposed harsher penalties for the offence of driving under the influence.
Currently, the penalty is a fine between $30,000 to $60,000, or 12 years’ imprisonment.
The amendment proposed no less than $200,000 for first-time offenders and no less than $300,000 for repeat offenders. It also adds that persons convicted under this section will be disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver’s license for 12 months.
Moreover, the bill submits an increase in the fine to $200,000 for driving or attempting to drive while blood alcohol levels exceed the prescribed limit. The current law stipulates a penalty fine of $7,500.
