Sandys taxi driver $300 in Magistrates' Court.

Vernice Fuller told Acting Senior Magistrate Edward King she was provoked into hitting 18-year-old Julia Smatt on December 3, 1999 over illegal parking on Canal Lane near the St. John's Road Service Station.

But Mr. King told Fuller "don't take the law in your own hands'' after hearing her explanation.

Fuller, 39, of Malabar Close, told Mr. King: "I have apologised to the Smatt's twice and they haven't even accepted my apologies. Not once did this 18-year-old girl apologise.

"I was not being aggressive, it was assertive,'' Fuller continued. "By rights, yes, I should have walked away and called the Police. I said `you should respect me because I'm older'.'' She added: "I was on the pay phone and Mrs. (Vivian) Smatt approached me about how I was parked.

"I said I was sorry and said I'd be right there. I was going to move my car when Ms Smatt said `do you know this is a private road' and that I was blocking it.'' Fuller added: "I said `well, what about that car' -- which was passing by -- and she said `you shouldn't be parking like this you f***ing black b***h'.'' Mr. King heard that around 11 p.m. that night, Fuller parked her white Space Wagon, taxi number 11483, in such a way to block traffic on Canal Lane.

Crown counsel Oonagh Goodred said after Mrs. Smatt approached Fuller the pair were joined by Ms Smatt who, after words were exchanged, was hit in the face by Fuller.

Mrs. Smatt was able to pull Fuller away but was pushed down to the ground.

Police were called and Fuller was arrested. Once at Hamilton Police Station she admitted the offence, saying she was provoked.

She served a month long suspension set by the Public Transportation Board.

"I'm asking you to be as lenient as possible,'' Fuller asked. "It will never happen again. She just said the wrong thing at the wrong time.

"With Mrs. Smatt, my taxi was right behind her and I was looking at my livelihood. I didn't want to lose my licence,'' she added.

"Everyone was telling me to hit her again, but I said no. My feelings were really hurt.'' Mr. King fined Fuller $300 for hitting Ms Smatt but gave her a conditional discharge for one year for assaulting Mrs. Smatt. The fine is to be paid by Friday.