Transportation | Passengers’ association calls for tougher ‘rogue taxi’ legislation

Andrew Scott

The Macau Taxi Passenger Association (MTPA) was disappointed with the weak legislation proposed at Tuesday’s meeting of the Traffic Advisory Board (CCT), held at the Macau Transport Bureau (DSAT) headquarters, according to a statement.
The proposal calls for sanctions on taxi drivers after they are caught breaking the law more than eight times in one year and that the second level penalty be a suspension lasting one month.
MTPA President Andrew W Scott said: “Given that rogue taxi drivers are generally not caught when they break the law, this would mean taxi drivers could scam passengers dozens of times a year and receive no penalty. The initial penalty proposed is a mere one week suspension – hardly a strong incentive against bad-acting drivers.”
The MTPA proposes penalties, for taxi drivers caught “fishing” or engaging in other illegal practices. The association also claimed that if Macau is to be a successful international world-class tourism and leisure hub, a ‘superb’ taxi industry with ‘honest and trustworthy drivers’ is necessary.
Scott also criticized taxi drivers as they sometimes charge illegal fares of as much as MOP1,000 to unsuspecting tourists for a single taxi ride.
“We’ve had this problem in Macau for around a decade now, and it’s taken over seven years to get these proposals to the Legislative Assembly. Is this really the best we can do? We must get this right – it might be another seven years before we have another chance!” declared Scott.
Meanwhile, MTPA also claimed that research has shown that other jurisdictions with heavy penalties for ‘bad acting’ taxi drivers, have particular ‘clean and healthy’ taxi industries, stating Singapore as an example.
The association has expressed its disappointed over DSAT as its 33-page proposal lodged with DSAT in September 2014, as part of the Public Consultation Process regarding Macau’s taxi industry, received no response. Staff reporter