IGP David Asante-Apeatu
The police administration is to embark on a special operation to apprehend unauthorized drivers who have been using sirens on the roads.
A statement issued and signed by Superintendent Cephas Arthur, the director in-charge of the Police Public Affairs Directorate, maintains, “The police administration has observed with grave concern the abuse of such sirens on our roads as regulated by Regulations 74 of the Road Traffic Regulations of 2012 (LI 2180).
He said the regulation requires that a person shall not fit on a motor vehicle warning appliances other than the type approved by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).
The PRO said the law is clear on who can install and use motor vehicle warning appliances, including bells and sirens in their vehicles.
“The law lists categories of entities permitted to install and use sirens and horns and they include a government vehicle used for official purposes by the Head of State, a police vehicle, a motor vehicle used by the Fire Service, a motor vehicle used as an ambulance by a hospital or clinic, a motor vehicle used by other recognized government security agencies and a bullion vehicle registered by the Licensing Authority.
Superintendent Arthur said it is therefore, an offence for any person not within the listed entities to install or use sirens and horns.
“The police administration is hereby entreating all unauthorized persons and institutions who have installed and using sirens and horns to cease the practice, since defaulters shall be prosecuted,” he cautioned.
He confirmed that the warning also goes to authorized users since they would face the law upon arrest.
According to the police officer, the police administration was going to embark on a nation-wide exercise to enforce the law.
A grace period of one week has therefore been granted for all the unauthorized horns and sirens fixed to vehicles to be dismantled before the exercise begins.
By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey
(lindatenyah@gmail.com)