Transport Minister mulls charging passengers who use robot taxis
ST JAMES, Jamaica – Transport Minister Mike Henry says if possible, considerations will be given to calls by transport operators for passengers to be charged with aiding and abetting of robot operators.
“As long as it’s possible, I will look on it to bring it in the Road Traffic Act, right, which is to come out of Parliament by June. So, I hope the appropriate arm of the ministry will get that information across,” Henry promised.He was addressing transport operators in St James on Wednesday following a tour of the Montego Bay Bus Park and meetings with the Mayor of Montego Bay and other officials.Henry said the aim of his visit was to, “continue to meet with the transport operators, their associations and to further explain a multi-modal connectivity of transport for Jamaica. And how I can build a transport industry that is relevant to the importance of the people.”Earlier, a member of a taxi association in St James pointed out during a meeting held at the offices of the state-owned Montego Metro Bus Company located at Bogue that in other countries passengers can be charged for aiding and abetting.”Any country in the world, a man who knowingly harbours a criminal is charged for aiding and abetting. And, I am saying that unless we reach that place where we find a way to speak to the issues of passengers who knowingly aid and abet ‘robotting’, we are going to continue to have that problem,” the St James taxi operator argued.However, newly assigned zone leader in St James, Deputy Superintendent of Police Ainsley McCarthy pointed out that at present the law does not support such a move.”There is nothing in the law that can charge a person for aiding and abetting. It is very difficult. The only person that I can charge for aiding and abetting under the Road Traffic Act, basically, is someone who knows that the vehicle is unlicensed and insured and gives it to other person to drive. But, a person who takes a taxi or any motor vehicle, you cannot charge them for any offence,” explained DSP McCarthy.Anthony Lewis