Errant cabbies to face stiffer penalties
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Errant cabbies to face stiffer penalties
From Monday, those caught overcharging, touting or refusing pick-ups face higher fines, suspensions
Straits Times, The (Singapore)
Prime News
November 13, 2007
Author: Marcel Lee Pereira
WHERE errant cabbies are concerned, the authorities have decided that enough is enough.
From next Monday, taxi drivers caught touting, overcharging or refusing to pick up passengers will be hit where it hurts most - their pockets.
Stiffer penalties - higher fines, demerit points and immediate suspensions - will be handed out, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said yesterday.
Repeat offenders may even lose their licences.
Currently, cabbies who refuse to pick up passengers or tout are fined $100 and $200, respectively.
From next week, these two offences will earn immediate suspensions of two and four weeks, respectively. Offenders will also pick up at least twice the number of demerit points.
If a cabby is caught overcharging by less than $20 twice within two years, his licence will be revoked; if he overcharges by $20 or more, he will lose it on the spot.
Fines for all these offences will also be more than doubled - except for overcharging by $20 or more, where the penalty stays at $500.
Commuters like Dutchman Freek Van Velsen, 40, who works in a bank at One Raffles Quay and is constantly approached by taxi touts, cheered the new measures.
He said: 'I think, with such large fines, even if they get caught once, it will hurt. In the past, they might have taken the risk because the fines were not that high.'
LTA's spokesman said licence suspensions are good wake-up calls for first-time offenders, who would then know their rice bowls are on the line if they repeat the offence within 24 months.
The new penalties 'strike a good balance between deterrence and providing opportunities for a contrite taxi driver to mend his ways', added the spokesman.
The Taxi Operators' Associations, which represents six associations, said it welcomed the new penalties, but hoped the authorities would be flexible in meting out the punishments and would conduct thorough probes.
Premier Taxi Operators' Association president Foo Chi Yong, 47, who spoke on behalf of the other operators, said accused cabbies should have channels for appeal so that the genuinely repentant will get a second chance.
About 23,000 cabbies from five taxi operators ply the roads and log 600,000 commuter trips daily.
Cabbies who spoke to The Straits Times said they were glad measures were being introduced to weed out the bad hats as the majority were making an honest living, although rising rentals and fuel costs have eaten into their earnings lately.
The LTA looked into 471 cases of soliciting, overcharging and refusal to pick up passengers between January and last month.
It stepped up enforcement last month, with almost daily operations at touting hot spots such as Clarke Quay, Sentosa and Orchard Towers - the same month The Sunday Times reported that touting and overcharging were rampant there. A barrage of e-mail and letters from the public confirming this followed.
The LTA said these checks will be kept up.
It also announced yesterday that 15 more taxi stands will be built in the Central Business District (CBD) by year end - adding to the existing 80 - so that commuters will find one within a five-minute walk.
And from March 1, hailing a cab on roads in the CBD will be prohibited for safety reasons. Taxis will be allowed to pick up or drop passengers only at taxi stands and along private driveways.
From next month, signs will go up at taxi stands and, perhaps, even in taxis to make it clear touting is an offence.
These signs will also advertise LTA's hotline (1800-
CALL-LTA or 1800-2255582) to make it easy for passengers to give feedback or report drivers.
[email protected]
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY JESSICA LIM
NEED A CAB IN CBD? GET TO A TAXI STAND, HOME H1
Copyright, 2007, Singapore Press Holdings Limited -
Need a cab in CBD? Get to a taxi stand
LTA to enforce new rule for safety reasons from March; 15 more taxi stands to be built
Straits Times, The (Singapore)
Home H1
November 13, 2007
Author: Maria Almenoar & Jessica Lim
FROM March next year, commuters will need to find a taxi stand if they want a cab in the Central Business District.
This includes areas like Orchard Road, Shenton Way, Raffles Place and Suntec City.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) yesterday announced the new rule, alongside stiffer new penalties for taxi drivers who do not stop for passengers, who tout or who overcharge. Misbehaving cabbies can lose their licence immediately in serious cases.
The ruling about taxi stands is meant to improve road safety, said the LTA.
With the introduction of more bus lanes within the city, it said, taxis are finding it harder to pick up passengers hailing them from the roadside. Plus, those who do stop in time for passengers may swerve in indiscriminately or suddenly, making it dangerous and disruptive to traffic flow.
So, instead of sticking their arms out and flagging a taxi from the kerbside, commuters will have to get one from a taxi stand - and even if you book one, it must pick you up at a stand.
The only exception is if residents within the city get taxis to pick them up within their private driveways.
The LTA will build 15 more taxi stands by the end of next month, bringing the total number to 95 in the city area.
Taxi stands will always be within a five-minute walk of any building in the CBD, LTA assured commuters yesterday.
Both taxi drivers and commuters seemed to welcome the new rule yesterday: Mr Adi Negara, 48, a taxi driver for the past 11 years, explained how stopping in the CBD can be a dangerous game.
'There are many bus lanes and it is difficult to stop, and if we do, we have to swerve through lanes.
'The taxi stands will help because commuters will know where to wait and we will know where to go.'
While commuters The Straits Times spoke to yesterday generally agreed that it would be safer, a bigger worry was if the taxis would come at all - whether at a stand or otherwise.
Mr Jeffrey Chan, 31, a wealth-management consultant who works in a building on Cecil Street, said that, already, most of his time at the taxi stand is spent watching the cabbies - with their 'On call' signs lit up - zip by.
He reckons seven out of 10 won't stop. Which already equates to 30-minute waits every night for his taxi home.
His sentiment was echoed by people polled last night.
It is more about increasing the supply of cabs during the rush hour to meet demand, say commuters.
Or upping the flag-down rate for cabs so more taxi drivers will want to stop at the stands, say drivers.
'If you charge passengers a one-time surcharge to take a taxi from the city, more cabs - after dropping passengers off in the suburbs - will be more willing to go back to the city,' said cabby Dicky Ong, 53.
[email protected]
[email protected]
Copyright, 2007, Singapore Press Holdings Limited
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What cabbies say about the new penalties
WHAT GOES AROUND...
'We can drive non-stop but if traffic is bad, rental is high, oil prices go up, we make less. But we don't do dishonest things because what goes around comes around.'
- MR DICKY ONG, 40, who has been driving a taxi for 18 years
ENFORCE IT
'Some drivers just want to make fast money. These penalties are good only if the LTA enforces them; if not, drivers will not be scared.'
- MR MICHAEL LOO, 58, a cabby for three years
IT'S WHAT PEOPLE WANT
'I think part of the problem is that there is demand for this type of 'service'. If people didn't accept such offers, these cabbies would just have to line up like the rest of us and pick up passengers.'
- MR THEN YUEN FAH, 40, who has driven a limousine cab for six months
PICK-AND-GO MOTTO
'The motto should be: Pick and go. I don't ask where passengers are going because it is not fair. They stood in line after all. It doesn't matter near or far.
I was a passenger before, too, and I understand the frustration. I waited at Woodlands Checkpoint to go to Marsiling and the driver refused to take me. I sat in the cab until he agreed.'
- MR ADI NEGARA, 48, a taxi driver for more than 11 years -
Bo wa eh tai ci .....
I do business legal one , i hide "safe" place for a booking .
"Hiding for a booking , rule and regulation never say cannot . -
They set-up 100 taxi stands , also will have problems ..... more problems .
It actually gave us ...... more bookings !!
See ...... taxi cannot pick on the street , so customers all rushed to the taxi stand .
If one Q has got 40 people waiting at a taxi-stand , most ... i would say most customers , within 10 minutes wait , they will "On-Call" for a cab very soon .
Anyway ... setting up taxi stands , their reason is for safety .... i accept it .
*I am a 5pm -5am night shift cabby " -
see , one more problem ..... those cabbies if cannot "pick and choose" within the CBD , they'll do it outside CBD , stupid right this LTA ?
Taxi will be even less in CBD
See .... taxi got one rule and regulation , " Taxi driver cannot ask commuters at the taxi-stand when " changing-shift " , but are allowed to ask commuters anywhere non-taxi-stand . "
So if cabbies cannot ask " where u going ?" inside the CBD , then they'll go outside CBD .
CBD area will be worst then .....
As a whole , this implementation , works minimum effect .
U all see la . -
Taxi stands erection ...
For me ... it's good .
It's a slap on commuter's face .
Why ?
They created this problem , not cabbies .
See ....... LTA react base on complaints .....
Many commuters actually complaint they waited at a taxi-stand , but many people cut-Q out of the taxi-stand , go infront of taxi stand , and hailed for a cab , and hijack one .
I am so sure many of the people here do that ... taxi stand long Q , go before taxi stand !!!
So the taxi-stand people got angry . And complaint .
Right ?
So LTA erect more taxi-stands , commuters must Q now .
Those "hijackers" , good luck to them . -
Can't anyhow pick up in CBD? How about drop-offs?
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Can only pick up and drop off at taxi stand inside CBD, roaring business ahead for Dial-A-Cab (6552 1111)!
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FROM March next year, commuters will need to find a taxi stand if they want a cab in the Central Business District.
This includes areas like Orchard Road, Shenton Way, Raffles Place and Suntec City.
[/b][/quote]
Like that is like taking bus at bus stop liao. Might as well go take bus. -
Like that is like taking bus at bus stop liao. Might as well go take bus.[/b][/quote]sux decision! now we have to queue up at taxi stand to alight for taxi.Originally posted by cloud210:FROM March next year, commuters will need to find a taxi stand if they want a cab in the Central Business District.
This includes areas like Orchard Road, Shenton Way, Raffles Place and Suntec City.
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65521111?? u sure?? its invalid..Originally posted by chongctd:Can only pick up and drop off at taxi stand inside CBD, roaring business ahead for Dial-A-Cab (6552 1111)! -
6552 2222 has been discontinued as both Comfort and CityCab are using 6552 1111 now, just look at any Comfort or CityCab taxis.
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ya.. u call 6552 2222 and u will get message to ask u to call the 6552 1111.
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Maybe that's what LTA , Comfort , SMRT main intention .... divert people to take the " non-profitable " buses and MRT .
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Then those who cannot get a cab , they du-lan go buy a car , then LTA erect more gantries .
And earn more COEs .... generate more road taxes .....
Maybe that's their way to balance the BUDGET next year . -
Actually one way is the best .....
No extra taxi stands .... No need toutings .... No need booking .....
That is to make the taxi fare like 5pm to 8pm .
I think i should write to them .
Before wasting money to erect more taxi stands , have a trial ... Have a trial of " Peak Hour " extension , as in .... currently peak hour 5pm to 8pm ... trial the extension from 5pm to 11.30pm .... see how the reaction , then decide whether or not that 15 extra taxi stand is necessary ?
Customers no need to call can get a cab , HAPPY !
Cabbies earn extra , HAPPY !
Singapore ..... aiyo , inside CBD area , hotels , within 3km outside CBD , evening time , after 8pm , stop wasting time to wait for cheap taxis .....
Want cheap taxis ? Monday to Friday ? Take before 8pm , pay $2 extra better , or else , pay $4 more after 8pm lor .
That's the scenario now .... it will remain unchange , if the current flag-down remains unchange. -
i believe the majority of taxi drivers who like to pick & choose pax, refuse to pick up pax are part-time drivers. and most of these part-time drivers already got other alternative source of income that's why they can afford that sort of snobbish attitude.
i think the authorities got to think of ways to get rid of those problematic part-time drivers to improve service level. -
No la reverse .... part-time cabbies is the most discipline , cos they only work 1 or twice per week , they do what they can to grap a few more xtra dollars .Originally posted by SBS3688Y:i believe the majority of taxi drivers who like to pick & choose pax, refuse to pick up pax are part-time drivers. and most of these part-time drivers already got other alternative source of income that's why they can afford that sort of snobbish attitude.
i think the authorities got to think of ways to get rid of those problematic part-time drivers to improve service level.
Pick and choose drivers are solid old time drivers .
They pick and choose not because of race , sex or $$$ , it's the final destination that matter most !
For example , i always chose to go West Side .... i shunned passenger going to Woodlands , Yishun , Sembawang , AMK , Bishan , Hougang , Sengkang , Punggol , cos CTE guarantee jam . Jam waste time and $$$ . And this mention location , extremely low taxi demand after 5pm .
West Side ? If i take one customer go Jurong from town , my next target is Tuas industrial area !! And who knows , i can bring one to Tampines from Tuas , $30 trip !
As in ..... town to Jurong $14 , Tuas to Tampines $30 , one hour perhaps $44!
If i take one to yishun eg , one hour maybe maximum $20 . -
Originally posted by Poolman:Bo wa eh tai ci .....
I do business legal one , i hide "safe" place for a booking .
"Hiding for a booking , rule and regulation never say cannot .
Smart 
pun not intended...
I don't understand why the taxi drivers continue to take this nonsense...
Taxi driving anywhere in the world is the freest of the free jobs... here, taxi drivers are treated like coolies of despotic dictators... -
china is the best
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I took a cab ride in Shanghai... the driving keep pressing his horn every few minutes... it drove me mad... Singapore taxi drivers are already very good lah... to "increase penalties"?Originally posted by missqi:china is the best