If traffic was at a snail's pace yesterday, and the public can expect the same again this morning as protesting taxi drivers have vowed to meet at Bernard Park and drive their slow protest home throughout Hamilton.

Last night at rush hour almost 300 taxi drivers took to the streets in their protest against pending GPS legislation.

A line of taxis moved out of the meeting spot at Bernard Park at 5 p.m. to begin forcing gridlock on commuters.

The cabs drove onto Victoria Street, Church Street and Front Street and from Queen Street and Par-la-Ville Road.

Some circled the outskirts of town while others drove through the main traffic arteries.

Police escorts appeared at the entrance to the park to follow the line of taxis as they made their way through town. One taxi driver blocked the Police and sounded his horn to let others proceed out of the entrance. rode with one of drivers ? a ten-year veteran of the industry who staunchly opposes GPS.

"These are the individual drivers sticking up for the industry," said the driver, who refused to be named.

"I came into business ten years ago, it's sad that it has to come to this. I believe in communication but the Government can easily find out who's working their cab without using GPS. It's a scheme for Government to make money."

Cars and bikes swerved around the taxis and motorists could be observed sounding their horns while getting visibly upset at the congestion.

The bus terminal was crowded after 5 p.m. and several visitors to the Island could be spotted on the streets trying to flag down an empty taxi.

Buses leaving Hamilton appeared to be completely full.

One passerby at the Ferry Terminal on Front Street kept shouting at the drivers to get back to work urging them to "drive that cab".

A couple who are visitors to the Island told they hadn't been able to get on the bus and were "feeling frustrated" at not being able to find a cab to take them back to their accommodation.

The driver, who owns his own cab and liaises with a number of local companies for business, said he just wants to stay busy but doesn't want to have to pay for the cost of GPS.

He uses a VHF radio to communicate with a dispatcher, a system he said has worked effectively in Bermuda for years and is cheaper.

But some taxi drivers were in business as usual yesterday and could be spotted trying to get out of the line of anti-GPS vehicles.

"There's one who has been advertising GPS which is illegal as he's using Government money to advertise the service," said the driver.

Another taxi spokesman told that drivers want to demonstrate peacefully.

"We've been denied our rights of free travel and movement. What we want to get across to the public is that we will demonstrate peacefully and travel freely through the Island. The road is a public road ? it's for taxis and all forms of traffic."

He said most drivers were supportive of the action and were calling on the public to support taxi drivers.

"We want the public to support us and please give us our freedom of travel, this is what we were denied today on our own roads."