Zero tolerance - Taxi operators warned to obey parking rules downtown

THE NO-NONSENSE head of the Police Traffic Division, Senior Superintendent Radcliffe Lewis, is warning taxi operators that there will be strict enforcement of parking rules when the new transport system is introduced in downtown Kingston on January 15.

Taxi operators have expressed concern about their safety at the new parking location on Pechon Street and Water Lane and hinted that they might refuse to use the facilities.

But Lewis said the police were prepared to implement measures to ensure the safety of taxi operators and other members of the public.

He said there would be no let-up for taxi operators who broke the rules.

"The policy is that they must go into the parking areas and there should be no letting off or picking up outside of these areas," the just-promoted senior superintendent told The Gleaner yesterday.

"We, along with members of the ISCF (Island Special Constabulary Force), are going to monitor constantly to ensure that the area is safe," Lewis added.

He said some taxi operators who expressed fear about going to the new parking areas were being disingenuous.

"Those taxi men, they are unfair. They just want to stay in the South and North Parade area and don't want to go down there," said Lewis in his usual frank manner.

"It is not a security problem, and policemen and officials of the Transport Authority will be monitoring it 24 hours."

No ease-up

Lewis said while focusing on downtown Kingston, the traffic police would not ease up on their monitoring and enforcement efforts across the rest of the Corporate Area.

"The successful measures imposed last year, we are going to intensify them, so we will continue to target the buses with the dark tints and the musical instruments.

"We will also deal with the drivers who are speeding and ensure order in the public space in Half-Way Tree," said Lewis.

The tough-talking cop also vowed to continue the controversial crackdown on young men who wipe windshields at intersections and the back-up men who load passenger vehicles.

Lewis said this year, the police would also target extortionists - who operated mainly in the commercial areas - charging persons to park in public spaces.