Rise in taxi infractions during Spring Festival

The Public Security Police Force (PSP) recorded 231 taxi infractions during the Spring Festival holiday period from Thursday last week until Tuesday, according to a statement released by the PSP.

The infractions includes 164 cases of over-charging and 33 cases of taxi drivers refusing to accept passengers.

During the same period, the police also recorded 41 cases involving unauthorized taxis, 27 of which related to mobile taxi hailing services.

In addition to these taxi service infractions, the PSP also investigated 15 incidents concerning unregulated sales or lighting of fireworks. 

During last year’s Spring Festival, the PSP issued 78 tickets to Macau’s taxi drivers, including 35 for over-charging and 26 for refusing to accept passengers.

Compared to this year, last year’s inspection of illegal taxi services involved significantly fewer infractions, with only seven cars found providing taxi services without a legal license, and two cars involved with app-based taxi hailing services. 

In September last year, the Transport Bureau (DSAT) released data regarding the public’s complaints about Macau’s taxi services.

According to DSAT, from January to August of last year, the department received more than 1,540 complaints related to taxis, 467 of which were associated with overcharging.