WESTERN BUREAU

A St James mechanic, who is accused of committing several traffic offences while operating taxi, will go on trial in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on November 24.

Audley Anderson is said to have disobeyed a policeman's signal to stop after he was seen with excess passengers in his motor vehicle.

Anderson entered a not-guilty plea to charges of dangerous driving, disobeying a policemen's signal to stop, having more than the prescribed number of passengers in the vehicle and having no driver's licence.

Resident Magistrate Winsome Henry on Wednesday expressed shock at the fact that the vehicle was returned to the accused without formalities being followed. She was even more surprised when Anderson told her that he sold the car within a week after it was released, as he had no money.

His bail was extended until his trial in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Night Court.

It is alleged that on November 10, the police were on patrol along St James Street in Montego Bay when Anderson was seen driving with two passengers in the front of his car. He was signalled to stop but disobeyed.

Further allegations are that the accused proceeded to drive the car on the sidewalk, causing pedestrians and a cyclist to flee for safety. He was subsequently apprehended and the motor vehicle seized.