Highway fees upset PMV operators

MORE than 200 passengers and 23 highway PMV operators are calling for an end to policemen collecting money from drivers and passengers without issuing receipts and Traffic Infringement Notice (TIN) along the Hiritano Highway.
Gulf PMV Owners Operation Association chairman Paul Paiva claimed that drivers and passengers were threatened and assaulted by police who demanded money as the penalty for carrying extra cargo or being overloaded.
He said police manning roadblocks at Laloki, Daiyama, Bereina, Doa and Malalaoa all demanded some payment from PMV drivers travelling between Gulf and National Capital District (NCD). Amounts range from K500 to K600.
Paiva claimed that policemen were demanding and collecting between K800 to K1,000 on a daily basis.
“When we refuse to give them K500, they negotiate it down to K200 and we pay, but if we don’t, they take our licences and permits,” he said.
Paiva said the highway patrol officers used to set up roadblocks but now police officers from Gerehu, Hohola, Saraga, 6-Mile stations were also involved.
“When it is government pay week no policemen are found on the road but when it is company week they are busy collecting money like we are their ATMs,” he said. Police Internal Affairs officer-in-charge of discipline Chief Insp Charles Winuan said it was the first time the PMV owners and passengers had come forward to police.
Winuan said those who had complaints needed to report them to his office and provide information such as police vehicles registration numbers and to take pictures in order to identify the officers.
He said police officers were not allowed to collect fees from motorists along the road.
He said officers at roadblocks could only issue TIN for PMV owners to make payment to the Road Traffic Authority office at Hohola.