Seeking clarity on Jamaica's traffic laws

I am seeking clarity on traffic laws in Jamaica, specifically with regard to the signage and markings on our roadways. On February 5, 2014, my daughter and I travelled into Half-Way Tree via Constant Spring Road. I stopped in front of the Total petrol station for approximately 30 seconds to allow her to exit the vehicle, after which I continued on Constant Spring Road, where a police officer instructed me to stop in front of the transport centre.

I complied and asked him, "What have I done now?", to which he replied, "You stopped in a no-stopping area." I disputed this, and he informed me that there was a no-stopping sign while pointing in the general vicinity of the Total station. The police officer asked me for my documents, then removed his ticket book, and proceeded to write a $3,000 ticket. I refused to sign, opting instead to appear in court.

At my first appearance, I pleaded not guilty to the charges stated in the citation. The clerk of court asked me why I entered that plea, and I made it clear that I did not agree with the police officer regarding the alleged traffic violation. I subsequently presented an image of the Total station to demonstrate to the court that there was no such sign posted where I had deposited my daughter.

The presiding judge, a female with a foreign accent, and the clerk of court studied the image and informed me that I was guilty because of the presence of a continuous yellow line on the edge of the sidewalk. I disagreed with both the judge and the clerk of the court, while referring to The Jamaican Driver's Guide, newly revised Road Code Edition (by Cliff Hylton). I made it very clear that a continuous yellow line means 'no parking', as opposed to 'no stopping', as depicted in the driver's guide (Page 40B).

The judge, clerk of the court and I continued to argue back and forth for approximately 15 minutes, during which time the judge became extremely agitated to the extent of slamming the law books on her table and informing me about the number of years she attended school.

The clerk of court advised me to research other unrelated traffic cases, to which I responded, "Those cases are not my concern, I am concerned with the matter at hand." The judge then stated, "You old men want to have your way when you come to court. You are all like old dinosaurs!" after which she informed me that The Jamaican Driver's Guide is not the law, and I was to return to court at a later date.

QUESTIONS

I have spoken to a number of people, including two individuals who work as examiners for the issuance of driver's licences, and the general consensus is that the Newly Revised Road Code Edition of The Jamaican Driver's Guide is the customary document which is used as a study aid for persons seeking a Jamaican Driver's License. Therefore, I have a number of questions for which I seek clarification:

1. If this document is indeed illegal, why has it been written by Mr Cliff Hylton, and is endorsed by the Ministry of Transport and Works?

2. Why is it being sold in a number of bookstores across Kingston and St. Andrew, and I dare to assume across the entire island?

3. What document or guide did the judge, clerk of the court, and police officer in this case use to acquire their own driver's licences, and why is the Jamaican public not aware of this alternative 'legal' document?

4. Since continuous yellow lines supposedly mean no stopping, why are they to be found all across Kingston and St. Andrew in a number of places where stopping is required, such as sidewalks on which there are bus stops?

5. Was this excess of yellow paint gifted to Jamaica?

6. Has the entire city been painted yellow because we have to use it (i.e., the yellow paint) while we have it?

DISGRUNTLED DRIVER

Kingston