Transport Minister Robert Montague is encouraging persons interested in operating rural hackney carriages to apply to the Transport Authority by the November 30 deadline.

Addressing a consultation with transport operators on September 27, at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston, the minister noted that since the TA opened the system for rural areas on September 10, the agency has received some 2,000 applications.

He says there are some 22,000 illegal operators.

The minster is encouraging persons to meet the deadline.

Mr. Montague also called on drivers and owners of public passenger vehicles to update their information on the TA database within two weeks of any change, noting that it is a breach of the law for operators to not provide the agency with their telephone numbers and addresses.

He also told the authority’s inspectors not to engage in a vehicle chase of persons when they breach their operating licence, as they can serve warrants at the addresses of the operators.