The Transit Police Unit is demonstrating a zero-tolerance approach to unauthorised usage of the Priority Bus Route (PBR).On Friday night, despite the burden of the $2,000 fine for the PBR offence, 97 people were issued tickets for unauthorised use.Supt Anthony Bernard of the unit said, "The exercise will be ongoing. We have formed a Special Response Team and this team will be looking at incidents on the PBR."
Bernard and ASP Phillip led ten officers between 5 pm and 10 pm in the vicinity of D'Abadie where 115 people were charged with varying offences.While breaching the PBR was the most rampant offence, seven people faced the $1,000 fine for not wearing seatbelts.Bernard made it clear that not even members of the protective services be spared:
"I want to advise members of the protective services to desist from using the bus route without authority because they will be issued a ticket."Bernard said a few of those ticketed were in fact issued to members of the protective services on Friday.He said they will be "conducting traffic exercises and implementing strategies and tactics to create a safe environment in all the Transit Police service areas."These areas include Route One (yellow band), City Gate and St Joseph Road, Arima.
Tickets issued:
Breach of the PBR -97
No seat belt -7
Breaching traffic signal -1
Parking for hire at a place not so designated -1
Parked at taxi stand- 2
Failure to comply -1
No certificate of vehicle insurance -1
No ID lights -4
Unnecessary obstruction -1
