COCONUT VENDOR GETS $19K IN TICKETS

CCNTV6

A coconut vendor is pleading with the TTPS to be more lenient with drivers after being issued $19,000 in traffic violation tickets on Sunday night.  The man tells our reporter Cindy Raghubar-Teekersingh he is guilty for most of the offences, but feels one of the six tickets carrying a $10,000 fine, was unlawful and unfair.  He says he’s been given one month to pay and while he plans to contest at least one of the tickets, he’s unable to make the rest of fines in such a short space of time.

Transcript

00:00For over 20 years, 39-year-old Ravi Baboulal has been a coconut vendor.

00:06He recently started selling at the top of High Street on Library Corner, San Fernando.

00:11And it was while trying to fill up his cart with coconuts to sell this week

00:14that he was issued six traffic tickets, totaling $19,000 in fines, around 8 p.m. two nights ago.

00:23I had gotten $19,000 tickets on Sunday night

00:26because when I came in here to put in my coconut, it had a roadblock out there.

00:31And the police ended up chasing us and they gave me $19,000 tickets.

00:35Now, I find this very unfair because that same woman had already charged me.

00:39They already charged one of my drivers for, you know, defective tyre and inspection and so on.

00:45So, you know, I find like that was just two months ago before Christmas

00:49and all my earnings had gone behind those tickets.

00:52Mr. Baboulal admits he has a couple pending court matters

00:55and has been ticketed multiple times in the past.

00:59But still, he feels at least one of Sunday's tickets was wrongfully issued.

01:03Some of the offenses, I can say I'm guilty, yeah, like the tyre and the inspection.

01:08But like here, where you can see $10,000 here for insurance, my vehicle is insured.

01:12I am a law-abiding citizen.

01:14My vehicle will not be on the road without valid insurance.

01:18They asked for the insurance and they saw it.

01:20You produced it?

01:21Yes, I produced it.

01:23So you'll be going to court for that?

01:24Yes, I will be going to court for that.

01:26Between 7.56pm to 8.05pm, Mr. Baboulal, driving his white Mitsubishi van

01:33at the corner of Keaton Mucarapo Street's San Fernando,

01:37was ticketed for carrying unsecured load, $1,500,

01:40using his vehicle with defective tyres, $2,000,

01:45permitting excess sparks, smoke or visible vapour from the vehicle, $2,000,

01:50using a vehicle on a public road without a valid policy of insurance, $10,000,

01:56failing to comply with the directive of a police constable, $1,500,

02:01and failure to produce a vehicle for inspection

02:04or driving without a valid inspection sticker and certificate, $2,000.

02:08He has until February 3rd to pay the $19,000 in fixed penalties,

02:15a time frame which he says he will be unable to meet.

02:19I'm working for the TTPS.

02:21I have no future here.

02:23All my earnings shall be going to the TTPS.

02:26Look, yesterday was my birthday.

02:29I told them that it was my birthday.

02:30They had shown no mercy towards me.

02:34So which means the TTPS cares nothing about public servants.

02:37He is calling on the government to intervene and reason with the TTPS

02:42to be more considerate of people's financial capabilities,

02:45as many people, he says, are unemployed or self-employed

02:49and cannot begin to pay these fines.

02:51If they could have been a little lenient and give me a couple months,

02:54I would have paid, you know,

02:55but I certainly sure I cannot pay it in one month's time.

02:59That is totally unfair.

03:00I might have to sell my vehicle,

03:01and then that will be the end of my business.

03:04Because how would I get cooking?

03:06My van, my vehicle is my livelihood.

03:09I would like them to be a little lenient with us

03:11and ask the TTPS to show some mercy.

03:13Cindy Raghubatika Singh, TV6 News.

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