News

Toll road users cry foul - Motorists not receiving ticket after payment

By LEIGHTON WILLIAMS, Staff Reporter

USERS OF THE toll road are complaining about the refusal of the toll collectors to hand over tickets whenever they stop at the toll booths.

Motorists say they have had to argue with the attendants at the toll booths to get their tickets, although they should receive the tickets.

But, if motorists think that tickets will be issued soon, they should think again.

"The policy is to give one when someone asks for it. It takes more time to issue the tickets and we find that most people don't ask for it as well," said Trevor Jackson, Managing Director of Trans-Jamaican Highway.

However, motorists believe the refusal of the attendants to issue tickets is a cause for concern.

"Everytime I go there I have to argue with them for my ticket. Sometimes I'm convinced that I receive the wrong ticket because the person before me may not get a ticket," said Donovan Gray, a motorist who said he used the toll road to Spanish Town at least once a week.

Not everyone receives

Checks by THE STAR revealed that not every motorist receives a ticket whenever they pass at the collection booth. When THE STAR visited the Spanish Town toll booth, some motorists received a ticket when they were handed change while others received change only. In one instance, a motorist who handed the attendant the correct change drove through without receiving a ticket.

When it was THE STAR's turn to pass through we were handed our ticket and our change. But, the motorist who went before did not receive a ticket.

But, according to Jackson it is possible for a motorist to receive another motorist's ticket.

"It is possible for that to happen because of the system which we have," he said.

He added though, that it was not possible for workers to run a scam with the tickets, since there were many checks and balances in place. He points out that sensors at each plaza also registered the class of vehicle which passed.

"For one, each time the barricade goes up it is registered as a vehicle. Also we have checks and balances in place so there's no benefit for the worker to skim off money," he said.