Cop warns businesswoman of ‘stopping license’ in viral clip
A local police sergeant was caught in a viral video warning a businesswoman that he could recommend that her trade license be revoked and hold her legally responsible for her customers’ poor parking habits, despite having a parking lot at her business place.
Sergeant Glenn Callwood of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) was caught on video lecturing the businesswoman inside her store, complaining that her customers were parking inappropriately and causing traffic disruptions.
“I’m saying to you again, this is about the fifth time for the day we come here moving people from here. If you continue, the Magistrate can stop the licence,” Callwood stated.
Callwood, who advised the woman that he has now risen to a higher position in the RVIPF, underscored that his elevated role now focuses on supervisory duties. “When I was working East End here a few years ago, I worked as a Constable, now I am working as a supervisor. It’s a different role I’m playing and my role now I’m playing is not to come and beg you, ‘please’ to have people move,” Callwood told the woman.
The officer further explained that the business could face consequences if the parking violations continue, mentioning the possibility of notifying the Magistrate to pull the store’s trade licence. “We, the police, can make a note to the Magistrate to pull the licence. We can do it,” Callwood stressed.
Legal obligations and the Road Traffic Act
The issue of improper parking falls under the BVI’s Road Traffic Act, which outlines regulations regarding the parking of vehicles on public roads. According to Section 43 of the Act, it is an offence for a vehicle to remain stationary on a road in a position likely to cause danger or obstruct other traffic. Notably, the Act does not speak to the responsibility of business owners.
Although the woman explained that she had no control over where her customers parked, Callwood insisted it was still her responsibility to prevent them from blocking the road. “You’re responsible. When they come in here, ask them where they parked,” he advised.
In the video, the businesswoman can be heard explaining that she has a parking lot and tries to inform her customers when she notices they have parked incorrectly. However, Callwood remained firm. “I’m saying to you, whether you know it or not, the person coming in here to your store, you are responsible for where they park,” he said.
The video has attracted widespread public attention, with one member of the local legal fraternity commenting: “For the avoidance of doubt, traffic tickets are issued to the drivers of motor vehicles who have violated the traffic laws. The proprietors of any adjacent businesses, who the said vehicle drivers support, are not responsible for the negligence of any driver.”
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Where is this energy for the horrible Parking in Long bush ??!!??
and in front of the Hospital. Staff always illegally parked impeding the flow of traffic instead of using the parking lot across the road. Supacop need to go there and issue some tickets
He is now stationed in East end,so hence his desire to straighten out the traffic woes up there!! BUT HAS HE ALSO SPOKEN TO THE BAKERY OWNER ON THE SAME STRETCH??????May GOD GUIDE CSLLWOOD ON THIS VENDETTA HE IS ON!!
But the truth is that more than 70% of Government offices DO NOT have adequate parking and most businesses, available parking is worse. Please leave the woman alone.
It’s a way of life in the Caribbean, space is limited, period!
It is a burning shame that Callwood can be boasting about elevating to higher rank, in a supervisory position and do not know the law, do not know the rights of an individual and making himself a total jacka**. It is an embarrassment to the RVIPF. What can Callwood really teach his subordinate officers. Is this the level at which our police force is dropping. God help us.
@former cop what standard you talking about just look at the officers that they have hired you see any standard to be an officer.The worst police force in the caribbean .
Why he don’t go lower estate…is a shame a two way road just full of rentals hate driving through that place
Where is the ghost rep of D4…the government coukd mske a easy 5k today just ticket everythibg park in the road and on the side walk repeat daily…
Part of your trade agreement is that you must have a piece of land to store your rentals not displayed on the goverment streets
Good job callwood you are the best cop.
This woman was targeted that is the nonsense that goes on . He is a bully Does not knowbthe law you D**ce
Totally agree the cop is a disgrace to the uniform always giving All kind of I’ll advice a good lawsuit will set him and his bosses straight
Let’s get Lower Estate by the barbershop and the concrete mixers and car rentals addressed too. Rentals have taken over the road, one lane of traffic at times… because what – these ppl are locals?
Some people will never be happy. If he gave all her customers tickets, or had them towed, she’d be complaining about that!
worse than Haiti and the fish stinks from the head down
He certainly did not go about it the right way, but he is most definitely correct in that parking here by many people, is disgusting.
Same goes for driving at night with high beams on. Taxi men and people just stopping on main roads to drop off and pick up people. People rushing out into oncoming traffic, and then slowing and going very slow. People that overtake you at blinding speed, and then quickly stop to talk to a woman, or friend on the side of the road.
I laughed the other day as I passed the East End Police Station and watched three kids right next to the entry reception of the police station talking to each other on unlicensed, bust up scooters, with no helmets, and greeting each other like long lost brothers. That told me all I needed to know about law enforcement in this place!
The basic courtesies between people are all but gone!
Keep the same energy with everything then it got man parking boat on sidewalks, people blocking entire lanes parking vehicle how you picking and choosing who to harass and who to turn a blind eye to? This just showing that the police don’t even know the law.
Good job Officer Callwood,
Once someone is enforcing rules in the BVI, they are wrong. This could have never happened in the USVI or USA.
Rules are rules, that must be adhered and followed.
We have gotten away with too much in the BVI and now we are paying the consequences.
We need more officers like Callwood to do their jobs and not collect a paycheck.
He need to visit these bars thats operating in neighborhoods and disturbing peoples peace.
Officer Callwood can I please get your telephone number to call you when bar owners crowds and music is disturbing me. The other officers are a waste of time.
Keep up the good job Officer Callwood. It’s about time to restore order in this please. When you’re doing right, remember the mass will hate you.
Had to be a cop wrote that #1. #2 too many egos in the police force with fragile dispositions. #3 body cams on all these cops for our protection and theirs
The methodology is just as crucial as the action itself. Callwood must grasp this concept in order to effectively uphold the law with dignity rather than resorting to intimidation and verbal abuse. When considering his role within the police force, Callwood appears to unjustly target numerous innocent individuals, using them as outlets for his own frustrations. It appears that the woman in question is one of his victims.
Law is law but it is not the store owner job to move customers from parking in the road. Let the officers do their damn jobs.
Callwood is wrong, threatening the woman to put a complain to the courts. What good is that going to do to shut the lady business down? They will still gather. There are many buildings that has no parking areas and people park on the roads and the officers do nothing about it.
Go and find some work to do, you are sickening!
Officer Calwood clearly crosses the line here. He is a bull and thinks he knows the laws. Sure traffic laws, but the other.. Please go back to school Mr Calwood, brush up on your knowledge of the law, and adjust your attitude.
Get promoted? Got it!!!!
Quite right Seargent keep the pressure on. We the silent majority support you. People think they can park anywhere.
That is not how the law operates even though we need a healthy and clean community
Good I glad!
It’s about time some of this behavior gets caught on camera! This is a type of bullying and suppression.
Remind the police to smile, they on camera now!
Where is the same energy for * Bank?
Exactly, no parking all around town, by big, small, private and public businesses. Every day, the Banks’ customers blocking traffic 20 – 30 times a day, perhaps more.
Not even the Admin Complex has sufficient parking. So how he going to win this case. He just needs to use his common sense and good judgement and apply it as necessary. Please stop harassing the woman.
The article tells you the law that governs situation like this
This is not the Wild West !!
M
He had no right to target the business owner that is not her job .
We are govern by rules
Callwood is d**b as a fish
Showing off and does not even know the law under which he operates
Parking and blocking up traffic is wrong but that is outside the woman job . Calleood job is to ticket them and clean up not the business owner .
This is how we want Independence’s and we do not know the law as a law enforcement officer
You make yourself look small , ignorant, a bully, and prejudice
Go back to school and learn the laws under which you can or cannot operate . Shame on you
Is that the only business operating in this location? I think his behaviour was terrible. Can she control where people park? He needs to do his job and give them tickets. This was completely unnecessary.
How bout the way dem park in the traffic and fire lane at Rite Way Pasea disrupting traffic flow. Nobody does anything about it. Rite Way has a large parking lot for shoppers to use…it is pure ignorance on the part of the people who park there including taxi drivers and police vehicles…
He need to do something about fr**en im****s parking them trailers on the road east end an blocking the traffic. Only in the BVI a private individual can park a 40 foot trailer on the government road to be a hinderance to all road users.
Trailer blocking up the side of the road that is what Callwood need to ticket
Please do your own work. Its not the business owners responsibility to control illegal parking. Its the police’s job. Common damn sense.
He only went at her because she is from Guyana he now allegedly have a problem with Guyana people,…. He will continue to Harris her because he is mad about the situation. The top cop is who allowing this bu**y to treat people like that. This is the second time this man is telling people they can go to the highest authority in the land , and nothing is going to change. I wonder if he knows something about them.
This high horse bow down or severely inconvenience you with a choice of weapons & restrains off their belt mentality is why I dont like any encounter with police unless it is an emergency or they are stationary security.
The fifth time for the day he said! He allegedly has been harassing her multiple times and if it was a man they would be vexed up and he would find a excuse to arrest.
To me he sounds like a crazed alcoholic be**ar or drug a**ict off a block. His reasoning is flawed his ego is big and all you can do is agree incase he flips.
Meanwhile all you were doing is minding your own business.
Obvious ASSIGNED PARKING and DO NOT BLOCK SIGNS BUT INCONSIDERATE BUFFOONS BLOCK CARS FROM GETTING IN AND OUT ASSIGNED SPACES EVERYDAY EVEN WHEN THERE ARE NO CARS IN SOME OF THE ASSIGNED SPACES!!!!!!!
Park ELSEWHERE and STOP INCONVENIENCING TENTANTS!!!!!!!!
They need to look into persons parking in front of Republic Bank to go to the ATM. It is ridiculous! How are you going to park on a dual carriage way? 99% of the times when this occurs on the weekends and in the evenings the parking lot behind the bank is empty.
Callwood is a bu**y and targets innocent people and he l**s also but God know some of the things he doing to people will soon fall
I know of many people this man as allegedly violated and bullied and talk about his position and the fact that they can’t do nothing about it, he feels like he’s above the law
IIf he is going to accomplish this by adhering to the law, he must strictly abide by the legal regulations, without resorting to intimidation tactics or speaking to others as if they were his subordinates, whom he is incapable of communicating with directly.
While we are at it, Why ie the illegal and dangerous parking in front of Rite Way in town ignored? Someone is going to get hurt
It is however private property the police has no say there.