Licensing officers must be treated with the same respect afforded to police officers.
This is according to Criminal Attorney, Fareed Ali, in the wake of a viral confrontation involving a maxi-taxi driver and Licensing officers along the Southern Main Road in Curepe earlier this week.
He says the public often forgets that Licensing officers perform a law-enforcement function and should be treated accordingly.
“They are simply doing what they have to do and executing the law under the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act. We may not like the manner in which the law is being executed. We may think that some officials tend to be high-handed, but the job is a difficult job, and one has to do it.”
Police have since charged the maxi-taxi driver with assault.
Attorney Ali noted that motorists retain constitutional protections, but only when they remain within the law.
“If it is we stay within the parameters of the law, meaning we, being civilians, we, as drivers on the nation’s roads, then these officers cannot in any way infringe on our right to life, liberty, security of person, and enjoyment of property.”
He also addressed the maxi-taxi driver in the viral video, noting that he should have filed an official complaint through the Maxi Taxi Association.
He said a similar complaint pathway exists for motorists who are of the opinion that a Licensing officer did not act with integrity.
“You can simply file a complaint at the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation that Officer A, Officer B, they are doing things and, by course of their actions, victimising members of the public who are operating in a high-handed manner.”
He warned that Licensing officers can be investigated and disciplined.
“So if it is the investigation reveals that the officers acted in a manner that brought the civil service into disrepute by way of breaching their code of conduct, then charges could be laid against any of the officers. But that would be subject to investigation.”
He encouraged the public to record interactions, saying video footage offers the clearest picture.
“In other words, we may take a side, but a video doesn’t take a side. A video tells the true story in real time.”
The Attorney said both motorists and officers have responsibilities, insisting that proper procedure, not public confrontations, is what protects rights and ensures accountability.