Some bus operators on the Waterhouse to Cross Road, Three Miles and downtown Kingston routes are being forced to accept fares lower than what is set for them to collect.

The drivers operating to the inner-city community have been accepting the money because of intimidation.

The regular fare to travel to these areas from Waterhouse is $50 but quite regularly persons have been paying as low at $20.

male passengers

"Mi feel a way bout di whole thing ...," said one conductor who works on the Three Miles to Waterhouse route. He told THE STAR that this is a common trend among the male passengers.

The conductor said that if he asks these passengers for the rest of the money they threaten him.

A constable from the Olympic Gardens Police Station told THE STAR that they are not aware of the trend and there were no such reports.

A similar sentiment was shared by Corporal Graham of the Hunts Bay police Traffic Division. However, Graham pointed out that this trend is a breach or the law and "passengers can be charged for 'refusing to pay fee on public passenger vehicle' which is in the books".

This is little comfort for the operators, however, as they are faced with the problem daily. Max Davis, a driver and conductor, said that this is happening because of the residents' mentality.

confrontations

He said this trend is one of the things that cause the operators to be in confrontations with the police.

"Let's say you must pay the boss $8,000 fi di day, because yuh only a get $30 and $20 yuh affi drive faster, that's wen yuh meet up pon di police and di ticket money bigger than wan yuh a mek," said Davis.

However, he mentions that it is better if he receives the incorrect amount of money than none at all.