Rasbert Turner, Star Writer

Spanish Town

A senior citizen who was caught by the police operating a robot taxi was fined a total of $28,000 and prevented from having a licence for one year due to breaches of the Road Traffic Act. Sylvestor Chambers, 65, was caught by the police loading his Nissan motorcar at a gas station in Spanish Town, St. Catherine on September 15.

According to Inspector Patrick Murdock, when Chambers was caught loading the vehicle he was asked to produce his driver's license and he admitted not being the holder of a driver's licence, although he has been carrying passengers for several years. He was subsequently charged with no road licence, no insurance coverage and no drivers licence.

When he appeared in the Spanish Town RM Court on Wednesday, he pleaded guilty. His lawyer, Hugh Faulknor begged senior RM Lorna Errar-Gayle to be lenient with his client after considering his age.

The RM then imposed the fine of $10,000 for no drivers licence, $8,000 for no road licence and $10,000 for no insurance coverage.

She took time out to warn commuters to take licensed public passenger vehicles.