Mother calls on LTA to review fine

Listen to this article:

Worried mother Shitanjali says she cannot afford to pay the $150 fine as it is too high for her budget. Picture: SERAFINA SILAITOGA

A  MOTHER who was on her way to Labasa Town last week to sell suluka (pandanus strips) for her son’s school stationery was slapped with a fine of $150 for not paying $2.62 in bus fare.

Shitanjali of Wavuwavu in Labasa only had $2 remaining in her eTransport card and could not get it recharged at the shop in her area because of the long distance from her house.

The incident has prompted a plea from the mother of three for the Land Transport Authority and Government to review the fine costs as it was too much for people like her.

“My situation is genuine. I couldn’t top up anywhere else in my area and I explained this to the bus driver who understood and we’re only humans and bound to lack in some issues,” she said.

“I told the driver and we all know our drivers so we help out and he agreed because I was coming to town to sell the suluka, get the money and top up my card and pay the full fare. It’s the same bus anyway I will board in the afternoon to return home.

“Anyway, when we were travelling to town, the LTA officers boarded the bus at the Nagigi Naag Mandir and I explained my situation to the officer, but he refused and issued a fine notice of $150.

“How will I pay this? I can’t afford to pay this fine of $150 because it is too much for my budget.”

This amount, she said, was exorbitant for her family as they didn’t earn much.

“The LTA should do something about it because I am sure that there are other people who face the same situation of limited income, just like me,” Ms Shitanjali said.

“They should reduce the amount of fine. It’s unfair that I didn’t pay $2.62 and they expect me to pay $150 which is too much.”

Questions sent to the LTA on January 10 via electronic mail (email) and follow up emails remained unanswered when this edition went to press.

However, in a statement last week, LTA chief executive officer Samuel Simpson said LTA officers would be carrying out e-ticketing inspection and passengers with eTransport cards would be checked to ensure compliance with regulations.

He also earlier reminded passengers to ensure that while travelling on an omnibus, they must pay the omnibus correct fare through the eTransport bus card reader provided in the omnibus.

Meanwhile, LTA regional manager North Emosi Caniogo had also told Ms Shitanjali to visit the LTA office in Labasa to clarify the issue she was faced with.

Public notices have also been put up in Labasa Town reminding the public about the importance of paying their bus fares using the eTransport card. The notice also states that a fine of $150 was applicable.

Array
(
    [post_type] => post
    [post_status] => publish
    [orderby] => date
    [order] => DESC
    [update_post_term_cache] => 
    [update_post_meta_cache] => 
    [cache_results] => 
    [category__in] => 1
    [posts_per_page] => 4
    [offset] => 0
    [no_found_rows] => 1
    [date_query] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [after] => Array
                        (
                            [year] => 2023
                            [month] => 12
                            [day] => 19
                        )

                    [inclusive] => 1
                )

        )

)