Vaz warns taxi operators of increasing fares without approval

Transport Minister, Daryl Vaz, is warning taxi operators that increasing fares without approval is illegal.

His caution follows a series of complaints from members of the public.

"The practice of increasing fares without being prescribed by the minister is illegal. The [Transport] authority has received numerous complaints of this practice among hackney carriage operators and route taxi operators," Vaz said Tuesday.

According to the minister, some hackney carriage operators who provide route taxi services have opted to divide the fare among the number of passengers on each trip, resulting in a fare increase for passengers.

"To correct this, the Transport Aauthority, based on a non-objection letter from the JUTC (Jamaica Urban Transit Company) will make available 23 new routes in the KMTR (Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region) for the hackney carriage operators to transition. This will allow for the attachment of an approved fare structure which will be strictly enforced by the police and the transport authority," he said.

He noted that overcharging with route taxi operators mainly happens when commuters ask drivers to take alternative routes, a situation he said is currently unregulated

"This matter will be discussed at the public transport meeting today and we will bring regulations to correct this situation," he said.

In October 2023, the Government announced a 35 per cent hike in fares to be introduced in two phases; 19 per cent at the time of the announcement and 16 per cent in April 2024.

However, only the first phase was implemented, as concerns grew about the potential impact of higher fares amid concerns about the general increase in prices of goods and services.

Following discussions between government officials and transport association leaders, it was agreed that the second phase would be deferred and revisited in this fiscal year that started on April 1.

- Sashana Small

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