JIS

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Dr Omar Davies, says there will be a zero tolerance approach towards motorists who commit offences on the roadways in 2013.

He pointed out that last year over 30,000 spot checks were conducted, resulting in many drivers in breach of the Road Traffic Act, being caught.

The Minister said this was done through a multi-agency enforcement approach involving the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF), Island Traffic Authority (ITA) and Transport Authority.

Davies said there will be greater co-ordination and collaboration among agencies, such as the ITA, the revenue agents, the Traffic Division of the JCF, the Ministry of Transport, and the Transport Authority, in an effort to further clamp down on delinquent road users.

“For the uninitiated, one would have assumed that all this would have been taking place…It has been, up to now, quite possible for someone to formalise and renew his licence with the Transport Authority, even while he stuffed away 1,000 (traffic) tickets…,” Davies said.

The Minister assured that the Government will put an end to this situation, noting that any renewal for a driver’s licence will require a clearance from the (JCF).

“I want to send a clear message that we are moving towards zero tolerance in terms of offenders,” he stated.