MTTU IMPOUNDS MOTORBIKES (Page 3)

18/01/2008
Story: Mary Mensah
THE Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service yesterday impounded 101 unregistered motorbikes as part of a massive clamp down on suspected criminals in Accra.
Supt Solomon K. Ntim of the MTTU told the Daily Graphic that the exercise would be extended to cover the whole country, especially the four venues of the Ghana 2008 football tournament, to ensure that the motorbikes were not used for criminal purposes or to cause accidents on the roads during the tournament.
He said the operation would continue until the cities were rid of all motorbikes which did not have the requisite licences. He accused owners and users of those bikes of flouting laid down regulations, endangering the lives of members of the public and their own lives and using the bikes to engage in criminal activities.
In recent times, motorbikes, usually with two men on each, have become dangerous vehicles by which criminals snatch bags, mobile phones and other valuables from members of the public.
Supt Ntim said the motorbikes targeted were those which had either not been registered or had expired insurance covers.
He described as erroneous the thinking by some people that they could use their drivers’ licence for motorbikes and said it was an offence to do that.
Supt Ntim stated that previously a driver’s licence ‘A’ holder could drive any vehicle, but said with the new licence law, licence A permitted holders to drive only motorbikes, while licences B, C, D, E and F were for various types of vehicles.
He said in 2006, out of the 18,650 vehicles which were involved in accidents throughout the country, 828 were motorbikes, adding that the number increased in 2007.
“We are not discouraging people from using motorbikes, but we want the riders to know that if they use motorbikes, then it should be within the confines of the law in order to protect themselves and other road users,” he added.
“Henceforth, all motor riders are to note that it is a crime to ride without a licence and those found to be without licences will be put before court,” he said.
He advised all motorbike owners to register their bikes, insure them and acquire motor riders’ licences before putting them on the roads.
Supt Ntim said this year, as part of its traffic management role, the MTTU would also clamp down on the abuse of trade plates by individuals and groups.