L.A. Lewis, a well-known entertainment personality, was recently fined J$10,000 or 30 days’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to one count of evading the toll when he appeared before the St. Catherine Parish Court on Tuesday. The incident occurred at a toll booth in Portmore, Catherine, and has been the subject of much criticism.
Lewis, whose given name is Horace Lewis, was also charged with two counts of evading the toll and two counts of forcible damage to toll road property. However, he only pleaded guilty to one count of evading the toll. Despite this, Lewis’s attorney, Orville Morgan, argued that his client is a notable member of society suited for bail. He was granted said in the sum of J$200,000, but Lewis’s legal woes are still not over, as he is scheduled to return to the Catherine Parish Court on September 15 to answer the additional charges.
Reports indicate that Lewis’s behaviour at the toll booth was disruptive and violated toll booth protocols in St Catherine. The CEO of the Toll Authority of Jamaica, Lerone Laing, spoke out about the incident, highlighting the gravity of the situation and making it clear that Lewis had committed an offence for which he would be prosecuted.
The Toll Authority Act of 2003 stipulates that failure to pay toll fees in accordance with the law or regulations can result in the recovery of the toll amount, administrative fees, and any interest as a civil debt in a Resident Magistrate’s Court.
