Dancehall Fans Urge Popcaan To Pay ‘Chicken Feed Traffic Fines’ And ‘Call It A Day’

Even though he might be just two demerit points shy of having his driver’s license suspended, some of Popcaan’s fans are calling for him to plead guilty and dispense with the traffic charges slapped on him, instead of engaging in a protracted court battle with the St. Thomas Traffic Police.

After Popcaan pleaded not guilty to the charges on Thursday, some Dancehall fans scolded the Raving artist for fighting what they deemed to be an unnecessary battle.  Popcaan appeared in the Yallahs Traffic Court, more than a month after he was prosecuted by the St. Thomas police, for, among other things, driving an unlicensed motor vehicle, driving without insurance or fitness, no fixed registration plate, driving without a helmet, and careless driving.

He was slapped with the charges on Sunday, April 26 after being intercepted by a female police inspector, while reportedly traveling with his entourage in a nine-vehicle convoy in a section of Bath in St. Thomas.

According to some of his fans, Popcaan was not only wasting time, but also wasting money as he could easily pay the fines, which were “chicken feed” for him, and “call it a day” instead of doling out hefty lawyer fees.

“Dem man ya fool nuh @#$% weh lawyer charge him way more than the fine weh judge ago charge him,” rofueraazriel said, adding later: “No insurance is not a offence that requires a ticket, can be arrested or summons. My artiste too but bwoy fool fool.”

Another follower, vybzpromojm, also recommended that if Popcaan was worried about the fines, he could turn his losses into a money-making venture by using his musical talent.

“Bail for traffic violation? 😟 just pay the ticket dem and sing song bout it, make back the money,” he urged.

Others, like baddd_bwoi, were not so sensitive and instead choose to jeer the St. Thomas native.

“Look like the weed him smoke tun him into a baboon,” he wrote, while another jester, mcwilliams7725, added: “Popcaan we all lose offa uh …why not plea guilty and move on ur moving like a ponk 💯😂😂😂”.

Whilst there were fans who agreed with Popcaan’s view that he was being unfairly targeted by the police, others declared that all the evidence pointed to the face that he transgressed and that he should “fess up”.

“Why not plea guilty since you very well know you are at fault, Poppy? You won’t win with all this stupidity!” temquano declared.

In a more reasoned tone, lynfordroyal, urged the Firm and Strong to not be “wrong and strong”.

“Poppy you must choose your battles wisely.  As your fan I want you to walk away sometimes boss just take the wrong and move on nuh man cho that’s what I thought you would do, pull back sometimes poppy,” he encouraged.

“Either Popcaan, not being advised properly, wasn’t advised or did not take the advice… The man was operating a vehicle without the necessary documentation, simply plea guilty pay the fine and get on with you life,” agitate8 added.

One commenter jamunitec, though, surmised that Popcaan’s resistance against the charges might be due to the fact that giving a guilty plea to the charges could result in them cumulatively adding up to 10, which is only two points shy of the demerit points threshold of 12.  His license could be suspended by the court if he has accumulated points prior.

“Seems like all the traffic violation add up points that automatically losing his drivers licence 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️ only reason I see for him to say not guilty. Like get catch in the meat pot and look in your mother eye and say a lie because you already lose 8 live 😂,” he quipped.

On Thursday, Popcaan was ordered to return to court on September 2, to stand trial, after he pleaded not guilty to the breaches of the Road Traffic Act.

If found guilty under the Road Traffic Act, the 32-year-old faces a $15,000 fine for driving a motor vehicle on a road without a valid certificate of fitness; $10,000 for driving a motor vehicle on a road without it being registered in the prescribed manner.

For the charge of driving a motor vehicle in a careless manner, he can be fined $20,000 and acquire four demerit points. He also faces a $5,000 fine for the un-affixed registration plates for which he can also get another four demerit points.

The other infraction for which he could accumulate points are for failure, to wear a protective helmet in the prescribed manner of the prescribed shape, quality, construction or standard, while driving or riding on a motorcycle, in which he could get two demerit points plus be fined $8,000.

On Thursday morning, the Brawlin artiste reportedly denied the allegations, arguing that he was not riding the motorcycle when the police intercepted the group and told the judge that the bike in question is a three-wheel motorcycle which was lying on the side of the road when the police approached.