Transport Department Considers Naming Drunk Driving Convicts Amid Spike in Fatal Accidents

Amid the spike in fatal road traffic incidents, the Department of Transport is contemplating publishing the names of persons who are convicted of drunk driving. Following the loss of fourteen people in fatal traffic incidents just the month, the department has come under scrutiny. Many in the public domain have questioned whether the department has done enough to negate the root causes of accidents like drunk driving. In 2021, the department received several breathalyzers to use on the highways. But since then, many have speculated whether the department is utilizing the pieces of equipment to stop drunk drivers and whether the result can be used in court. Well, today we asked the Deputy Chief Transport Officer Peter Williams about the situation, and he clarified that hundreds of people have been convicted of using breathalyzers. 

Peter Williams, Deputy Chief Transport Officer, DOT: “I do not know where that misinformation is coming from, but I can assure the public that the Department of Transport we are utilizing all the breathalyzers that we have. We have several convictions before the court with the use of the breathalyzers. The breathalyzers has been in use since 1996, right? So it’s an old piece of legislation but it is still applicable to the modern way how we operate when it comes to detecting persons who are driving under the influence of alcohol. And so certainly we continue to use the breathalyzers. Again, to this misconception that it’s unlawful or it’s not admissible in court, that is not true. The law is clear that the reading from the breathalyzers can be used as evidence in court.”

Reporter: So many persons have been caught drunk driving since the department received those breathalyzers. 

Peter Williams, Deputy Chief Transport Officer, DOT: “We have had, I would, from my vague recollection, we have had well over maybe 200 to 300 matters that we have convictions really that we have had before the court. We have our prosecutor within the Department of Transport who he marshals those matters to the court. And so to this idea that the public has that we’re not taking people to court, we are taking people to court. However, one of the things that we recognize at the department that we may need to do is that we might need to begin to publish the names of persons who we have convicted once again. It is something that we used to do before and it was effective  but perhaps we need to revisit that approach so that the public can see for themselves that we are getting convictions for this offence before the court.”

Late this evening the Belize Police Department also issued a release on the matter. According to the BPD, 215 persons have been arrested for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of alcohol from January to November 2024.