Police to increase survelliance of Corporate Area bus, taxi routes

The Police Traffic Division has announced that as of Monday, traffic personnel will be placing major emphasis on the activities of several of bus and taxi routes in the Kingston Metropolitan Transport region (KMTR).

Senior Superintendent Radcliffe  Lewis,  Head of the Police Traffic Division, said the areas of focus will include Duhaney Park to Half Way tree; Half-way Tree to Papine; Half Way Tree to Three Miles as well as the Molynes Road corridor, North parade to Papine and Mountain View to Half Way Tree routes.

According to Lewis, traffic personnel will turn the spotlight on robot taxis and unruly public passenger operators.

“Between the hours of 6am to 11 am and 3pm to 7pm each evening we are going to make sure that those routes are not taken over by robots and indisciplined public passenger transport drivers”

He also issued a warning for rural bus operators.

“Rural buses, once you enter the Corporate Area or the KMTR, you can only leave passengers, you cannot pick them up. That is a warning, if you are caught picking up passengers anywhere in the Corporate Area then you are liable to be prosecuted and your vehicle seized for operating contrary to you license” he said.

Meanwhile, the Jamaica Association of Taxi Owners and Operators (JATOO) has urged its members to be in compliance with all road rules to avoid trouble with the law.

The lobby group says members must adhere to other rules such as wearing uniforms and ensuring that units are clean and all documents are in place.

It says despite the negative perception of taxi drivers, they are all committed to providing the best travel experience to all commuters.