Transport Commissioner Clive Clarke says the Licensing Division intends to clamp down on the enforcement of vehicle inspections soon.

He made the comment as the division issued more than 200 fixed-penalty notices over the Easter weekend. Speaking with Newsday on Monday, Clarke said he is unhappy with what he is seeing from motorists.

“Saturday, I was on the highway and the things I saw, I was appalled because both the (Transport) Ministry and I have been making a call for a number of persons to get their act together as far as their driving documents are concerned.”

He said many people are still operating under a false assumption that there is a moratorium on the renewal of vehicle and licensing documents.

“A number of persons are driving with expired permits and with their vehicle not inspected. We are not under a moratorium.”

He said there are plans to further clamp down on motorists who do not meet the vehicle inspection criteria.

“I have given my staff the instruction to ramp up enforcement based on inspection because defective vehicles contribute to major issues on the nation’s road and we have to be able to ensure vehicles are inspected properly.”

Clarke said possible corruption at inspection stations is also being looked at.

“We have implemented mechanisms to monitor if we have delinquent vehicle testing stations on the outside. So where you find persons who may want to probably falter, we will find them out and we’ll treat with it.”

Motorists across the country voiced their displeasure on social media throughout the weekend with the number of roadblocks across the country. Maracas was no exception and business owners in the area told Newsday on Monday the attempt by police and licensing officers to clamp down on crime and errant motorists is hurting sales.

Licensing officers issued 72 fixed-penalty notices in road exercises in Maracas over the weekend. Small-business owners in the area told Newsday sales were slow and their customers were left scampering after law enforcement officials also began issuing tickets for indiscriminate parking. They say customers also complained about the amount of time they spent in traffic to get there.

One business owner accused the officials of “hurting the small man just to fatten the government’s pockets.” Several said they believed licensing officials chose the long weekend to have roadblocks because there was a greater likelihood of issuing more tickets.

Cleon Mitchell, who runs a snow cone business, said the roadblocks, particularly when there are licensing officials present, deter beach-goers and the effect was seen in his sales.

“Less people does come out because people coming from a distance and they coming to enjoy themselves and they ent want that headache.

“It humbugging we culture and it humbugging businesses on a whole up on this side. They keep doing it every holiday but it humbugging local businesses. It’s the time we does get to make money but like it’s a problem.”

Mitchell described the roadblocks as “a continuous problem” on