The Transport Authority says public passenger vehicle operators (PPV) who have raised their fares since the passage of Hurricane Melissa should discontinue doing so immediately, as the practice is illegal.

The transport regulator says it has been made aware that several operators across the country have raised their fares since the storm.

The authority’s Managing Director, Ralston Smith, is reminding the public that the demand by some PPV operators for commuters to pay more than the approved fare is illegal and is a violation of the rights of commuters.

As such, the authority is warning all PPV operators that, in keeping with section 68 (1) of the Road Traffic Act, operators who continue to overcharge passengers could have their road licences suspended or revoked.

In the meantime, the commuting public is reminded that one of the dangers of using unlicensed public passenger vehicles is that these operators often charge exorbitant fares.

The authority is therefore urging the commuting public to use licensed public transport vehicles which display red public passenger vehicle plates and the light blue Transport Authority sticker on the windshield with an expiration date of 2026.

Commuters are also being asked to assist the authority in cracking down on this illegal practice by reporting incidents of overcharging by calling 876-926-8912 or WhatsApp 876-551-8196, providing the licence plate numbers and the routes for the vehicles; or you may send us the images or videos of the vehicles in which you experience overcharging.