Chad Bryan, Staff Reporter

In the aftermath of Jodi 'Jinx' Stewart-Henriques describing track star Usain Bolt as a horrible neighbour a few weeks ago, a police officer has explained to STAR Auto some of the regulations around motor vehicles causing disturbances.

A few weeks ago, Stewart-Henriques, wife of recording artiste Sean Paul, accused Bolt on social networking site Facebook of being a horrible neighbour as the track star's use of bikes and the playing of loud music and screaming annoyed her in their Norbrook, St Andrew, community.

"Between the bikes, loud, horrid music, parties and screams, I honestly wish he would go back where he came from. He's a horrible neighbour. I cannot wait to move," she reportedly posted.

An officer at police traffic headquarters, who requested anonymity, stated, when used properly, bikes in general (including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs)) would not be classified as a nuisance. However, he pointed out that a distiction has to be made.

"There, again, we are walking a very fine line. Let us say a neighbour steps forward and says he or she is having a problem with another neighbour. Either he or she or they are allowing relatives, friends, families to be using certain types of vehicles to disturb them. Then a person can take action under the Town and Communities Act because the neighbour is now being a nuisance," the officer pointed out.

Police problem

However, that does not automatically translate into police intervention. Going further, the cop said "that in and of itself wouldn't necessarily translate into a police problem per se, that we could come there and arrest them."

The policeman did point out, however, that those motorists with modified bikes and motor cars whose exhausts are very loud can be charged with causing excessive noise.

Prior to being charged, the motorist would be taken to an examination depot for the vehicle to be examined. If it is found to be in breach, the licence plates would then removed.

Media complaint

Despite Stewart-Henriques' social media complaint, the Constant Spring police said they have no reports from residents in Norbrook, St Andrew, complaining about Bolt or any other person's use of bikes and ATVs in the upscale community.

At least one person has come to Bolt's defence publicly.

A resident of Norbrook, Kerry-Ann Tulloch, in a Letter to the Editor in The Gleaner dated June 2, said she did not agree with the image created of Bolt.

"I disagree with the image painted by Jinx. Bolt has parties, very occasionally - maybe once or twice a year, as do I and the neighbours across the street. I am not sure how Jinx can distinguish between my parties and my neighbour's or Mr Bolt's," she wrote.

She also said "he does dirt bike, but he wasn't the first as they have been drag-racing up and down Norbrook Road and up into Norbrook Heights since I was a child. It used to be Ninjas and Kawasakis; now it's ATVs and dirt bikes. He didn't start it, and in the absence of regulatory or legislative intervention, it will continue long after he is gone."

Stewart-Henriques has since apologised to the track star for the posts she made.