Toll road CEO blasts LA Lewis for breaking barrier

CEO of the Toll Authority of Jamaica, Lerone Laing, has blasted LA Lewis for being unruly and breaking through the toll booth in St Catherine, describing his actions as being distasteful.

"It is in poor taste and as someone with a social media following, he should set better example," Laing said. In a 28-second video clip captured by Lewis as he entered the Portmore leg of Highway 2000, the entertainer is seen and heard saying "The emperor people, mi do what mi feel like".

"Mi inna da toll ya people and it a take too long. Mi run mi owna destiny people suh mi a go through the tag line and ad i emperor suh mi duh suh now pum and mi run through di tag line and a it dat people," he said as he broke the barrier and triggered off an alarm. His action garnered hundreds of comments from viewers, some of whom were amused by Lewis' doing.

Laing, however, stated that this is no laughing matter and made it clear that Lewis had committed an offence and the matter was reported to the police. He told THE STAR that similar incidents do not happen often, but should there be an occurrence, offending parties are recorded and referred to the police for prosecution in the courts.

"The police have been referred to and he [Lewis] will be prosecuted via the courts accordingly," he said.

Under the 2003 Toll Authority Act, "If any person fails or refuses to pay toll in accordance with this act or any regulations made hereunder, the amount of the toll, administrative fee relating thereto and any interest thereon shall be recoverable by the concessionaire as a civil debt in a Resident Magistrate's Court notwithstanding any limitation as to the amount recoverable under the Judicature (Resident Magistrates) Act."

Section 26 of the act also stated that maliciously or forcibly breaking, damaging or destroying any property of a concessionaire on summary conviction, is liable for a fine not exceeding $200,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months.

Senior Superintendent of Police Christopher Phillips, head of the St Catherine South Police Division, said he was not aware of Lewis' breach, but said he will be looking into the matter.