KINGSTON, Jamaica — Police from the Traffic Division have intensified their operations along routes in the Corporate Area as part of efforts to clamp down on illegal bus and taxi operators.

"Since last Monday the police have intensified their operations to rid the streets of illegal operators," said Senior Supt Radcliffe Lewis, head of the division.

Lewis said the operations today would focus on sections of Mountain View Avenue to Half-Way-Tree; Duhaney Park to Papine; and along Washington Boulevard.

Last week, the Transport Authority warned that it would continue its crack down on hackney carriage operators to ensure “greater compliance and discipline” in the public transportation sector.

The Transport Authority warned that part of the clamp down would focus on operators who attempt to transport more than three passengers at a time and route taxis letting off or picking up passengers along specific routes in the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region.

The Authority said additionally, no licences have been granted for route taxis along the Mountain View to downtown; downtown to Papine; or Papine to Half-Way-Tree corridors.

The statement came on the heels of a protest by dozens of taxi operators in Half-Way-Tree last week.

They protested that the Authority’s actions were preventing them from making a living.