KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Association of Transport Owners and Operators (JATOO) says it considers the passage of the new Road Traffic Act in the Senate, a betrayal to the more than 25,000 public passenger vehicle (PPV) owners across the island.

The association said it yesterday decided in a meeting to consult its attorneys to test the constitutionality of the bill, focusing on the section where motor vehicle owners are financially responsible for drivers’ infractions.

It also said it will educate PPV owners across the island on the implications of this section of the bill on their investment.

“JATOO maintains that our sector must be granted special privilege because we are not privy to information on a person who presents himself or herself for employment as a driver. We employ based on the government issued driver license,” the association said in a statement this morning.

It further posited that the violation placed on the owner is “Not the fault of the owner and therefore cannot be controlled by the owner.”

JATOO also said: “Given the history of traffic fine collection in Jamaica, owners will not be notified in a timely manner and so an owner having over 100 tickets will know of these violations after many months or possible years.

“PPV investors put their money in a sector that is the only price controlled private sector in Jamaica. Any additional cost without possible compensatory revenue is really forcing these investors out of business.”

The new Road Traffic Act was passed in the Senate on Friday, but its implementation is unlikely to be completed prior to next April.