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TWO ADDITIONAL MEN FINED FOR FAKE TRANSPORT AUTHORITY BADGE
Kingston- Jamaica, January 29, 2023: The Transport Authority says two more of seven men have been sentenced for operating with fraudulent badges following a special operations conducted by the Authority in December 2023. The men were fined a sum of $100,000 each for knowingly being in possession of and uttering false documents when they appeared in the Westmoreland Parish Court on Friday, January 19, 2024. In issuing the verdict, the presiding Judge warned the men not to come back before the court for any such offence because they could pay a fine of up to a million dollars or 2 years imprisonment. Managing Director of the Transport Authority, Mr. Ralston Smith says this swift and decisive judgement by the court is a warning to persons who consider defrauding the Authority by contravening the badge procedure and putting the public at risk. He says operators must make an application for the badge and training programme and sign on to the operating training platform. The Managing Director is strongly warning PPV operators to discontinue the use of any fraudulent badge and urge the public to report suspicious activities of drivers and conductors by calling toll free 888-991-5687 or 876 926-8912; or WhatsApp images or videos to 876-551-8196. Under section 124, 126, and 127 of the Road Traffic Regulations and section 22 of the Road Traffic (Taxis and Contract Cars) Regulation the wearing of driver/conductor badges is a pre-requisite for operating public passenger vehicles. -30-
2024/25 PPV Licencing to be done through new Transport Authority Advance Integrated Management System (TAAIMS)
{{ "News/Caption 2.JPG" | asset_url | img_tag }}Mr. Ralston Smith, Managing Director, Transport Authority (2nd left) flanked by members of his team to include Mr. Michael Byrue – General Manager, Finance (left), Miss Taj-Marie Osbourne – Senior Legal Officer (centre), DSP Damion Jarrett of the St. Ann Police, and Mr. Lincoln Ogilvie, Managing Director of Orion Loss Adjustors as he addressed a stakeholder meeting to include Route Taxi Association leadership speaking about the new Transport Authority Advance Integrated Management System (TAAIMS).Kingston, Jamaica - January 24, 2024: The licence renewal of all public passenger and commercial vehicles will now be done online through the new Transport Authority Advance Integrated Management System (TAAIMS) come February 1, 2024. The revelation of this electronic motor vehicle licensing process was made by Managing Director of the Transport Authority, Mr. Ralston Smith, at a meeting of the Route Taxi Associations recently. Mr. Smith stated that this system is intended to make the licensing application and renewal processes more efficient; allowing for faster turnaround time, approval and delivery of road licenses. “I am very optimistic of the process and every member of the Transport Authority staff is engaged in behind-the-scenes activity to make the licensing season a success,” the Managing Director stated. He said that the Transport Authority has been transitioning from the old Licensing Management Information System (LMIS) to TAAIMS over the past two years and that it is now ready to electronically process all PPV licences for the 2024-25 licensing period. The Managing Director stated that two years ago the Transport Authority made an investment in a suite of [computerized] applications to revolutionize the way the Authority does business, and that by last year it was ready to support commercial carrier applications electronically. He further posited that public transport cannot be ordered today the same way it was ordered 10 years ago. Therefore we must embrace technology as part of the solution. He stressed that change is one of nature’s most inexhaustible laws. Therefore, it is a process that we must embrace in order to grow and develop. He emphasized that with this new approach, the Transport Authority/ Associations are giving stakeholders a sense of importance and autonomy. “Public passenger vehicle licensees not part of a taxi association can be facilitated entirely on-line, once all payments are made with a visa debit or credit card,” it was explained. The new Transport Authority Advance Integrated Management System (TAAIMS) is designed in an integrated manner with the Tax Office, insurance companies and police. Once the applicant’s motor vehicle documents are current, the on-line application can be completed allowing for the applicant to only make contact with the Transport Authority to collect their motor vehicle sticker. {{ "News/Caption 11.JPG" | asset_url | img_tag }}Mr. Ralston Smith, Managing Director, Transport Authority speaking about the new Transport Authority, Advance Integrated Management System (TAAIMS) at a stakeholder meeting to include Route Taxi Association leadership.Mr. Ralston Smith further charged that the Transport Authority, as a regulator must seek to innovate, evolve and change and that as Taxi Associations, they too have that inescapable responsibility to change. The 2024-25 PPV motor vehicle licensing period commenced with the pre-cursory inspection on January 2. Applications for all other public passenger and commercial carrier licensing commences February 1, 2024. The Transport Authority is urging all their licensees to renew their road licences early and avoid prosecution come April 1, 2024. Queries regarding the road licence application process may be directed to the Transport Authority via its toll-free number at 1-888-991-5687 or 876- 926 -8912.
MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTION FOR 2024/2025 LICENSING PERIOD COMMENCES JANUARY 8
The Transport Authority’s 2024/25 Licencing Period commences this January with the pre-cursory motor vehicle examinations on Monday, January 8. All public passenger vehicle (PPV) licence holders are being encouraged to get their vehicles examined at the various Transport Authority locations islandwide. Effective February 1, the Authority will commence the acceptance of renewal applications for all categories of public passenger and commercial carriers. Customers are being encouraged to use the online portal at www.ta.org.jm to save time during the licencing process. Customers conducting transactions at the Authority’s Head Office, are being reminded that the Authority no longer accept cash payments at this location. Customers may also use any of the several payment facilities including Paymaster, Bill Express, National Commercial Bank (NCB), bank vouchers, debit and or credit cards at the office. Under sections 61 (1) and 78(1) respectively, it is illegal to operate a vehicle as public passenger or commercial carrier without the requisite Road Licence. Therefore, the Authority urges all operators of public passenger vehicles and commercial carriers to renew their road licences early and avoid prosecution come April 1, 2024. All queries regarding the road licence application process may be directed to the Transport Authority via its toll-free number at 1-888-991-5687 or 876- 926 -8912. -30-
