The number of regulatory breaches by taxi drivers recorded last month decreased “hugely” by 77 percent from the previous month of May, following the new taxi law coming into force on June 3, the Public Security Police (PSP) said in a statement Tuesday.
A total of 113 offences by cabbies were recorded last month, a decrease of 380 cases from May when the police recorded 493 offences, according to the statement.
According to the statement, the 113 offences comprise 47 cases of overcharging, 21 cases of cabbies refusing to pick up passengers, and 45 cases concerning other violations.
The number of cases of overcharging passengers last month decreased by 85.6 percent from May when 327 such cases were recorded, while the number of cases of refusing to pick up passengers last month dropped by 82.6 percent from the previous month when 121 such cases were recorded, according to the statement.
According to the new law regulating the city’s taxi sector, the fines for various violations have been significantly increased, such as for refusing to pick up passengers and overcharging.
The new taxi law replaced a taxi regulation which came into force in November 1999 – i.e. shortly before the establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR).
Under the current new law, cabbies refusing to pick up passengers face a fine of 3,000 patacas, as opposed to a fine of 1,000 patacas under the previous regulation.
According to the new law, those overcharging passengers – when the overcharged amount is up to 50 patacas – face a fine of 6,000 patacas, while cabbies face a fine of 15,000 patacas when the overcharged amount exceeds 50 patacas. Under the previous regulation, overcharging carried a fine of 1,000 patacas.
The statement also said that the police recorded six cases of passenger transport services provided by unlicensed taxis last month.
According to the new law, those providing unlicensed passenger transport services – i.e. passenger transport services provided by unlicensed taxis – face a fine of 90,000 patacas, as opposed to a fine of 25,000 patacas under the old taxi regulation.
According to the statement, the 45 “other” violations by cabbies last month include various regulatory breaches such as failing to hand in valuables left by passengers to the police and failing to properly display the taxi-driving licence in their vehicle.
The statement said that the “noticeable” decrease in violations by cabbies last month compared to May was due to the toughened penalties of the new law and the constantly strengthened law enforcement by the police, adding that the new law “acts as an effective deterrent” to potential offenders.(Macaunews)
