Kingston-
Jamaica, January 29, 2023:
The Transport Authority says two more of seven men have been sentenced for
operating with fraudulent badges following a special operations conducted by
the Authority in December 2023.
The
men were fined a sum of $100,000 each for knowingly being in possession of and
uttering false documents when they appeared in the Westmoreland Parish Court on
Friday, January 19, 2024. In issuing the verdict, the presiding Judge warned
the men not to come back before the court for any such offence because they
could pay a fine of up to a million dollars or 2 years imprisonment.
Managing Director of the Transport
Authority, Mr. Ralston Smith says this swift and decisive judgement by the
court is a warning to persons who consider defrauding the Authority by
contravening the badge procedure and putting the public at risk. He says
operators must make an application for the badge and training programme and
sign on to the operating training platform.
The Managing Director is strongly warning
PPV operators to discontinue the use of any fraudulent badge and urge the
public to report suspicious activities of drivers and conductors by calling
toll free 888-991-5687 or 876 926-8912; or WhatsApp images or videos to
876-551-8196.
Under section 124, 126, and 127 of the
Road Traffic Regulations and section 22 of the Road Traffic (Taxis and Contract
Cars) Regulation the wearing of driver/conductor badges is a pre-requisite for
operating public passenger vehicles.
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