Petition supporting taxi legislation changes launched

The Macau Taxi Passengers Association, which operates the Macau Taxi Driver Shame Facebook group, has started a petition gathering signatures in support of changes proposed by the Macau government to improve taxi services.
The association said in a press release that the petition calls for “the support of the government’s efforts to improve Macau’s taxi industry,” while also urging the administration to conduct a comprehensive review of the city’s long-term taxi needs.  It has also been recommended that policymakers seek to reduce unlawful activities of some Macau taxi drivers, which are “damaging the reputation of Macau and its good taxi drivers.”
Petitioners are supporting strategies such as the introduction of undercover officers, who can play a significant role in “hunting” drivers who refuse to accept certain customers or try to find those who are willing to pay more that the regular fare – an activity commonly known in Macau as “fishing.”
GPS taxi tracking, audio visual recording equipment in taxis, e-taxi driver licenses, more taxi stand controllers and an increased taxi-related enforcement power to the police are other measures the petition is supporting. Additional measures include on-the-spot evidence collection and increased penalties. They also support possible license suspension and the cancellation of violations as well as education and commendation programs for exemplary taxi drivers.
The association’s president Andrew Scott said that “everyone knows Macau’s taxi industry is a disaster – probably the worst in Asia.” He recalled that everyone in Macau has a taxi horror story to tell. “It’s embarrassing for Macau when we take pride in being a world-class international tourist destination. The MTPA applauds the changes proposed by the Macau government, they can only help to eliminate the widespread illegal taxi driver behavior that is happening right now in Macau,” he said, adding that “we need to get these black sheep out of the industry.”
The government is revising current legislation on the taxi industry and has since launched a public consultation. Data collected during the consultation period is still under assessment.
The Macau Taxi Driver Shame Facebook group was formed last June and now has over 4,000 members. CP