Director of the Island Traffic Authority (ITA) Kenute Hare says no “chicky chicky” behaviour will be allowed at its examination depots islandwide while he is in charge of the traffic agency.

“We don’t want anybody coming to the depot and trying to buy a driver’s licence by offering money to pass the test,” said Hare, who was shifted from heading the transport ministry’s Road Safety Unit (RSU) to leading its Road Traffic Department in late 2020.

“The examiners say people try to pressure them and I am not pleased with the pathetic kind of driving I see on the roads, with the wanton selfishness and crassness being displayed. The numbers show that over 300 people have died on the roads, with the major contributors for the daily crashes being speeding, indiscipline, selfishness and crassness,” he told Jamaica Observer’s weekly Auto magazine recently.

“We are going to deal with this illegal act as people do not need to enter into any financial transactions with anybody at any examination depot. The depots do not collect money. We don’t have cashiers there. People also need to stop going to so-called touts to get information about cost of our various services. Come to the official sources,” said Hare.

“We don’t assign officers to special duties at our depots so customers can come in to harass them. People need to follow the proper channels. We don’t collect $25,000, or $45,000 or $50,000 to get a driver’s licence at our depots. So anybody engaging in those practices are not road or vehicular safety friends, they are road and vehicular safety traitors,” he continued.

“We have to protect the two things that we give for persons to drive on the road — a driver’s licence and the certificate of fitness. So, we are not into ‘chicky chicky’ behaviour. Island Traffic Authority (ITA) is not a supporter of chicky chicky, and if members of the public have the information and intelligence about chicky chicky-ism going on, let us know,” he said.

“If you, the public, don’t have any confidence in us to pass on such information, call the police… Call MOCA… Call C-TOC …Call all the anti-corruption agencies. We are not supporting this slackness,” he insisted.

Hare noted that people seeking to get a driver’s licence must begin the process by doing a written road code test, which prepares them with the rules of the road and requires a 75 per cent pass mark. This is free of cost. Once that initial test is passed, the applicant should go next to the ITA office to get a learner’s permit.

“You pay $1,800 at the tax office for the provisional learner’s permit, after which you begin to learn to drive. Anyone can teach you to drive under the law right now, but we would recommend that you go to a registered driving school that teaches driving techniques, including defensive driving,” he emphasised.

He said the applicant then returns to the ITA to pay to take a driving test for either a private or general licence. At that time, the applicant will need to do a written mechanical test if applying for a general driver’s licence. The final leg of the proficiency process is a yard test, to include reversing, parking and manoeuvring the vehicle inside the yard and around obstacles.

Hare noted that while he was convinced that money was being paid to get drivers’ licences, there is little the ITA can do to bring the perpetrators to justice, as those who pay refuse to name the people involved.

“The other day at the Denbigh Show in Clarendon, people were telling me the same thing. They told me how much they paid, but wouldn’t call names of those who they gave money. We are not a friend of that slackness. Those actions are a threat to the road and vehicular safety apparatus of the agency,” he said.

“People complain that they pay not to sit the road code tests. They are supporting slackness, because once you are prepared you can easily pass the test the proper way. So if you don’t feel comfortable going to do the test at the depot because you are being pressured to pay over money, call me,” said Hare.

He said if people are not able to visit the Tax Administration Jamaica office in person, they can pay online at: www.jamaicatax.jov.jm.

Hare is also reminding that the cost for obtaining a general driver’s licence is $7,200, while a private driver’s licence costs $5,400 and a motorcycle driver’s licence costs $4,140.

People who have concerns about the payments are encouraged to make contact with the authority at dita@mtw.gov.jm, or by telephone at 876-754-1900.

Island Traffic Authority administers the provisions of the Road Traffic Act, which deals with the testing of vehicles to ensure their fitness, road-worthiness and general compliance with safety standards, as it seeks to ensure a high standard of road safety in Jamaica.