The police keep making themselves look stupid or worse when they keep issuing releases such as that published on the Times website and Facebook page re “Police and flashing lights.”
As we observed at the time of the General Elections in February, when police issued a similar advisory, vehicles with flashing lights — some of these lights boldly mounted – are on the roads every day, passing police vehicle and police stations. Some of these vehicles are public passenger units, up and down on the roads everyday with flashing blue and red lights and nothing is done.
What does that leave the public to think about the police who issue these advisories – are they blind, incompetent or corrupt?
Below is the release issued by the Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) regarding flashing lights.
Police and flashing lights (CCU report)
The Police High Command has observed that in recent times, campaign vehicles of the two main political parties have been using green and orange flashing lights, similar to the lights used by emergency vehicles.
It has also been observed that bus and taxi operators and other members of the motoring public have been using lights, which are most often blue, in a manner that would imitate emergency vehicles, especially the Police. Both instances represent a breach of the Road Traffic Act.
The only persons who can lawfully use emergency lights are:
- The police
- Jamaica Fire Brigade and
- Ambulances
The Police use blue lights, while other emergency services use red lights.
In addition, having other vehicles using flashing lights may cause unwarranted confusion to road users and may allow criminal elements to deceive the public and impersonate the police and other emergency services.
The Police are therefore advising campaign managers and anyone associated with the
political process to implore their supporters to desist from the unlawful practice, as going forward, anyone found guilty of this will be prosecuted. The general public is also being warned to take heed.
