KINGSTON, Jamaica — Motor vehicle seizures can be authorised by officers of inspector rank and above but they do not need to be present to authorise the seizure of motor vehicles.

This is according to Head of the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Public Safety & Traffic Enforcement Branch, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Gary McKenzie.

Just recently, the Jamaica Constabulary Force raised the level for the authorisation of motor vehicle seizures from sergeant to inspector.

The move was intended to increase accountability, reduce misuse of authority, and ensure that the actions taken are justified and based on careful review of all circumstances.

READ: JCF raises rank permitted to authorise motor vehicle seizure to inspector

The latest update to the Force Orders triggered questions as to whether an inspector had to be present to issue the directive.

But speaking with Observer Online on Tuesday, ACP McKenzie clarified that while only an inspector and above can authorise the seizure of a motor vehicle, the individual with that rank does not have to present to grant the authority.

“The policy of the force as directed by the commissioner is that seizures are authorised by someone of the rank of inspector and above. Whenever those seizures are to take place, the authority that is given, the expectation is that it will be on the ticket that is given for the offense,” McKenzie shared.

“So the inspector may not be on the scene but once such directive has been given by an inspector, the inspector’s name and station is expected to be in the notation of the ticket that has been issued by the officer,” he clarified.

In the meantime, the public is being reminded that motor vehicles can be seized for several reasons to include being unlicensed, being operated without the requisite road licenses, being without registration plates or having those plates obscured, among other things.

Whenever vehicles are being seized, only approved wrecking companies must be engaged through the Police Emergency Communication Centre at the rates approved by the Transport Authority.

Wrecker rates are as follows:

Tow (within a 5km radius)

Motor Car                                 $12,000.00

Coasters & Hiace Buses         $22,500.00

Tow (over 5km radius)

Motor Car                                 $600.00 p/km

Coasters & Hiace Buses         $800.00 p/km

No-key Towing

Motor Car                                 $4,500.00

Coasters & Hiace Buses         $6,000.00