MICHELLE CHAMBERS* IS an angry woman as she claims that a traffic police officer drove away her vehicle after it was seized.
"Him jus siddung in mi vehicle an' drive it off although as far as mi know him nuh suppose fi do it," said Chambers. "When mi go ask him him a tell mi seh mi nuh know wha mi a talk bout."
Chambers' case with the police is just one of several grouses that the public have with the traffic police. But, based on local laws and despite what many of us may say there are very few things that they are not allowed to do.
Although many persons have questioned the existence of a bus lane, the drawing of yellow boxes at intersections governed by traffic lights and host of other problems, Superintendent Elan Powell explains that the traffic police can charge person who are found in breach of local laws.
"If they stop in the boxes obstructing traffic when the other side gets the green light they can be charged because they would be preventing the side with the green light from crossing," he said.
He pointed out in lanes designated bus lanes the situation was similar in that only buses should use the lanes.
But, although siding with the police in two of the above instances, he said an officer driving away a vehicle is not something that should be done.
"The law doesn't say how it should get to the station, but I wouldn't encourage any policeman to drive anybody's vehicle as in the event something goes wrong they wouldn't have the protection of the force. I would encourage them to let the wrecker move it, in that case if something goes wrong then it is the wrecker companies fault," said Superintendent Powell.
Still, others have pointed to cases where people are ticketed for talking on cellphones while driving. But according to the police, while one cannot be charged or ticketed for the offence, if they are obstructing traffic they can be ticketed.
*Not her real name
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