Road traffic officials conducted random checks of jitney drivers on Wednesday in an attempt to crack down on violators of the rules that govern public service drivers, but some drivers felt victimized by the checks.
The checks were conducted at various points in downtown Nassau with authorities seeking to determine whether drivers have proper licenses and have their vehicles in acceptable conditions.
Tyrone Major, who drives the Cable Beach route, said the checks were disrupting his business.
“I feel like they are doing their jobs, but then they are doing it too excessively,” Mr. Major said. “It is not fair to us, especially when [we] are dropping passengers off. They are rushing [us] out of [our] spot and [we] canﾴt make any money.”
Mr. Major said that he fully complies with public service driving rules.
“I think that it is not fair because there are people in government, and in their own department who have government cars tinted fully, but they do not get the same treatment,” he said.
Rodney Saunders, another driver, also scoffed at the efforts being made by the authorities.
“This today is a bunch of nonsense,” Mr. Saunders said. “The road traffic department is stressing us out. The drivers are really trying to do their best, and they are trying to stop you for no reason, cut down on your business, and run you from parking to wait until your bus is full.”
Other drivers like Anthony Smith supported the random checks.
“I think that is fair and itﾴs needed,” Mr. Smith said. “A lot of guys drive without their public service license being renewed, improperly dressed, and drinking. So I think that it should be done more often because they are making it really hard for people like me.
“I do understand that it is really hot and to keep your passengers comfortable you need a little tint on your windows, but when I am driving I see some drivers [whose buses you cannot] see inside at all. When you cannot see inside a bus that is a definite breach of road traffic regulations, and drivers know that.”
Road traffic officials said the checks were designed to ensure that the roadways in New Providence are safer.
Brad Smith, assistant controller of the Department of Road Traffic, said the exercise was aimed at cutting down on the number of illegal activities taking place on some jitneys.
“In reference to the dark tints, this is something that we are really trying to cut down on for the back to school rush,” Mr. Smith said. “There are so many illegal activities happening on these jitneys in reference to school kids.
“Sometimes we have reports where schools kids get on these public service buses and parents are sometimes concerned about where their kids are. They would be driving around with bus drivers until 8 oﾴclock at night.
“Because of the proliferation of tints on these buses, there is a lack of visual from the outside. So we are trying to have some safety mechanism in place.”
Mr. Smith said authorities will continue to conduct the random checks and bus drivers found in violation of road traffic laws will be brought before the courts.
Perez Clarke, The Bahama Journal
