New regulations coming for taxis

As part of the effort to regulate the public transportation system, come next year, all taxis will be required to have a checkered strip and a sign.

The new regulation will be part of the ongoing efforts by the Transport Authority.

According to a release from the Jamaica Information Service, the new regime is being implemented in association with stakeholders, licensees and operators,.

Managing Director of the Transport Authority, Donald Foster, stated in the release that "These standards are now part of our regulations. They have been gazetted, and so by the end of March, which is the end of the re-licensing or reapplication period, all hackney carriage taxis as well as route taxis should be fitted with their colour-coded signs," he said.

The managing director explained that in the case of route taxis, there is a black and white checkered strip running along each side of the vehicle from the front to the back. He said that vehicles operating as hackney carriages would have a black and yellow strip. The strips, he noted, would be about four inches wide.

"It will help us to better monitor public transport. It will improve order and it will help commuters to easily identify legally operated taxis," he said.

The release also stated that there will be no renewal of licences granted during the 2016 licensing period, which will run from February 15 to March 31, without the colour-coded strip and the taxi globe on the roof.

"Our priority is the safety and security of our commuters and all road users," Foster said.

He added that no grace period will be allowed.