KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Transport Authority is warning public passenger vehicle operators that they should immediately desist from the practice of overcharging commuters for use of public transportation in the Corporate Area.

Since the withdrawal of service by the JUTC, this morning, the Authority said it has again received several complaints from the commuting public that unscrupulous persons are insisting that commuters, including children, pay more than the approved fares in the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region (KMTR) and particularly in sections of Spanish Town.

This is illegal and a violation of the rights of the commuters, said the authority, which informed that its operations teams are monitoring this situation closely and 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.

The Transport Authority said it will continue to prosecute for this offence as it intensifies its drive over the upcoming weeks.

In the meantime, the commuting public is reminded that one of the dangers of using unlicensed public passenger vehicles is that these operators often charge exorbitant fares.

The authority is therefore urging the commuting public to use licensed public transport vehicles which display red public passenger vehicle plates and the light blue Transport Authority sticker on the windshield with expiration dates of 2020 and onwards.