KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Transport Authority (TA) is warning all public passenger vehicle (PPV) operators to abide by the prescribed fares, in light of the 19 per cent fare increase announced by Minister of Science, Energy, Technology and Transport, Daryl Vaz on Tuesday.

Managing Director of the Transport Authority Ralston Smith said the authority’s operations teams will be monitoring the implementation of the fare increase closely, starting on Sunday, October 15, 2023.

Smith also said the authority is taking a zero tolerance approach to instances of overcharging.

Operators found to be “unlawfully deceiving passengers as to the fare for a journey” will be prosecuted under regulation 129 (d) of the Road Traffic Regulations and may be fined up to $100,000.00 if convicted for the offence under section 107(3) of the Road Traffic Act.

The prescribed/approved Fare Rate Sheet is available on the TA’s Website (www.ta.org.jm) and on all social media pages using the handle transportauthorityja.

Flyers will also be distributed throughout the regions at transportation centres by Route Inspectors, the Transport Authority said.

The authority went on to urge commuters who experience acts of overcharging to report these incidents by calling toll free 1-888-991-5687 or 876 926-8912; or WhatsApp images or videos to 876-551-8196 or 876 279-8515.

“Complaints about overcharging should include the licence plate numbers, the routes for the vehicles or the location of the incident. Commuters may also download the Drive Safe Jamaica and Travel Pal apps from the Google Play or App stores and submit your images, videos or complaints on these portals,” the Transport Authority said.

In the meantime, the commuting public is reminded that one of the dangers of using unlicensed public passenger vehicles and Hackney Carriages being operated as route taxis, is that these operators often charge exorbitant/unapproved fares.

“The authority is therefore urging the commuting public to use licenced public transport vehicles which display red public passenger vehicle plates and the light blue Transport Authority sticker on the windshield with expiration dates of 2024 and onwards,” the Transport Authority stated.