Following complaints about police ranks in their private vehicles carrying out police duties, the Guyana Police Force is reminding members of the public that police ranks in plain clothes and in unmarked vehicles, are not authorized to stop motorists except when they are performing their duties on the roadway in front of a police station.

The issue has found itself on the front burner once again after a 19-year-old was trailed by a police officer in her private car for a traffic offense.

The police Sergeant who was in her uniform was on her way to work when she noticed that the young man drove pass several cars at the traffic stop.

The officer drove behind him and reportedly inform him of his wrongdoing. The teen drove away but the officer later met him up at another corner and pulled him over. He was charged and pleaded guilty to the traffic offense.

The Police Force is also reminding the public that traffic ranks are not authorized to stop motorists for routine checks of documents.

In a release the Police Force said, “they should only do so if an offence is committed in their view or where there is reasonable suspicion.”

All across the country, there have been cases of the Police conducting road blocks and randomly requesting drivers to hand over their vehicle documents for inspection.

The Police Force said the law permits police ranks to stop and search a motor vehicle based on reasonable suspicion or if they witness an offence being committed.