Kingston.
Commissioner of Police, Owen Ellington, has order the members of the Jamaica Constabulary to stop the arbitary seizure of privately owned pick ups and sport utility vehicles (SUVs).
The Police Traffic Division has been on a drive to clampdown on motorists who operate pick-ups and SUVs for hire without the requisite carrier's licence.
Ellington says the crackdown is being done in an arbitrary manner, causing "great inconvenience" and "financial costs" to some motorists.
Citing examples, the Commissioner said drivers returning from the airport with suitcases belonging to relatives and motorists who have gone to the hardware store to purchase hardware items such as cement and lumber have had their vehicles seized.
"In light of the mounting complaints against the police who are carrying out this practice, the arbitrary seizure should cease with immediate effect," Ellington wrote to the men and women under his
command in the weekly Force Orders.
"Before a seizure is made for this offence, the police should first satisfy themselves that the operators of such vehicles are operating for hire and/or reward and in breach of the Road Traffic Act," he
instructed.
Ellington has also instructed commanding officers to ensure that this issue is the subject of lectures over the next six weeks.
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