The press also asked the Commissioner to discuss the enforcement efforts that his officers will have to make to ensure that bus operators abide by the restriction that they can only carry travel with commuters at 75% of capacity.
As we told you last night, the operators negotiated this compromise with the Government, after the Briceno Administration had initially wanted to restrict them to 50% capacity as an anti-COVID measure.
This evening, the Commissioner clarified that this new regulation applies to all forms of public transportation.
Chester Williams - Commissioner of Police
"It does apply to all public transportation. So, whether you're a regular bus, i.e. you have a road service permit to run passengers on a daily basis, or you're a chartered bus, or the dalla vans, etc., the water taxis, will fall under the regulations. It is made clear that you must only now operate with 75% capacity. And so, we expect that the operators of this public transportation are going to ensure that the regulations are complied with. And, the police are going to be out on the streets on the highways to ensure enforcement of the regulation."
Reporter
"So, what about maybe those commuters who have to depend on one specific bus that is maybe available for that time, and they come at beyond that 76%?"
Chester Williams
"The offense is on the operator of the bus, not the passenger. And so, if the operator is found operating the bus with over 75% capacity, then that operator commits an offense. And the police are going to take appropriate action. So, if I were the operator, I'd ensure that my bus does not go above the 75% capacity."
So, to reiterate, public transport operators will be charged if they are caught carrying passengers at beyond 75% capacity of their vehicles, buses, or water taxi's. If you are among the over-limit passengers, the police will remove you from that mode of public transportation
