A fine for passengers who travel with illegal operators is being suggested among several measures to be implemented by the Government in its bid to bring uniformity to the transport sector.

Illegal or so-called 'robot' taxis account for about 30 per cent, or almost 13,000 of the 43,000 operators recorded by the Transport Authority earlier this year.

"That suggestion has been raised," said transport spokesman Reginald Allen.

"This would place the onus not only on the operator, but on the passengers as well. It is also one means of breaking the back of the illegality that is now taking place."

The transport ministry will also be introducing a mandatory colour-coding system, but the Government is yet to determine the final timetable, though the plan is to go islandwide using different hues to designate licensed public transport in the different transport regions.

colour-coded

Were licensed operators to be colour-coded - distinguished by transport region - it becomes easier, or so transport sector officials believe, to isolate and prosecute the illegal operators. And those passengers who are their patrons could, if the proposal takes hold, would be liable for fines.

But often, it is students, most of them minors, who make up the fares of illegal operators. The transport ministry said they would not be the targets of this proposal.

"While it is just a proposal at this time, it is hardly likely that a minor would be penalised should this come into effect," said Allen.

"They are under the dictatorship of parents and guardians, so the parents would have to be accountable."

President of the National Council of Taxi Associations, Deon Chance, told Sunday Business that his organisation was inclined to support a passenger fine, supports any effort that would discourage the use of illegal and rival taxis, but said a position on the colour-coding plans would not be taken until he got more information.

"I would support any initiative that discourages the use of robot taxis, and fining those passengers would be a very good idea," he said.

"On most occasions, they are the ones who stay in areas they are not supposed to. That encourages the robots, so that would be a very good idea."

Still to be decided is who will foot the bill for the colour coding of privately owned transport now operating in the system.

Yellow will be used as the base colour, which all public-passenger vehicles or PPVs will eventually sport, while other colours will be assigned to particular regions and parishes, which will allow for easier identification by transport regulators, the police and the public.

Montego Bay will pilot the colour-coded transport later this year, followed by a gradual roll-out, parish by parish, until there is nationwide coverage.

Chance said that there was not sufficient information and that more dialogue was needed before a decision was made on that project.

"We have not engaged our members, simply because we need more information. If we go to them with what we have, I am certain that they will not be in favour."

The big sticking point appears to be who would bear the cost.

"We are in a recession period , so the timing of such a project would be a concern, plus who would foot the cost of the colour change?" said Chance.

The logistics are being fine-tuned, the ministry tells Sunday Business, and a final decision, including the cost, will be made soon.

little visibility

"The question of asking someone to pay is not a popular one," Allen said. "Currently, we are dealing with the financing of the project, but the pilot will definitely take place by the end of this year, with a little visibility elsewhere in the island."

The Goverrnment-owned bus company, Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC), is leading on this matter.

Its last set of 50 imported Volvo buses, made by Belgian firm VDL Jonckeere, were painted yellow. JUTC buses serve the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region - covering Kingston, St Andrew and St Catherine.

mark.titus@gleanerjm.com