Passengers who believe they have been overcharged by minibus operators are urged to report these incidents to the police for appropriate action. The call for commuters to take a stand came from Police Inspector Roberts, Officer-in-Charge of Traffic in Region Three, during a recent episode of the program “Road Safety and You.”
Inspector Roberts advised that passengers should take note of the vehicle number in cases of overcharging and report the incident to the nearest police station or any police officer on duty. “If you encounter a situation where the conductor or the driver overcharges you, make a note of the number, use your phone to take a picture, and report it to the nearest police station or any police you see on the road,” he said. “Just stop them and give them the details, and the police will take action.”
The inspector also reminded minibus operators that failing to display the approved fare structure is an offense. He emphasized, “If you fail to display the fare structure, you could be charged for it. Yet, when passengers encounter situations like that, they need to report it to us so we can take action.”
Inspector Roberts noted that Region Three has previously faced issues with fare irregularities, but police intervention has led to improvements in compliance with the fare structure. “We are seeing improvement with the fare structure… So I implore passengers, when they experience problems like this, just report it to us, and we will take action,” he stated.
However, he highlighted a significant challenge: enforcement is often hindered when passengers who make reports do not attend court after charges are laid.
Overloading in public transportation, especially in minibuses, continues to be a long-standing issue. “We implore bus drivers to please be professional with your passengers and provide a good service,” Inspector Roberts urged, underscoring the need for improved standards within the public transport sector.
