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Sharjah - A fine of Dh5,000 will be slapped on erring drivers for the first time and Dh10,000 fine in case of repetition."

Published: Mon 31 Oct 2016, 2:39 PM

Updated: Tue 7 Feb 2023, 3:00 PM

The Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has fined 671 motorists of different nationalities for illegally offering taxi service in three months.

Rashid Al Nuaimi, head of fines section at the RTA Sharjah, said 611 of the unlicensed taxi services were done by Asian drivers. "These spanned 126 in June, 360 in July, and 185 in August."

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"These are compared to 543 illegal taxi violations recorded over the same period last year, including 168 in June, 246 in July, and 129 in August."

Al Nuaimi said up to 624 of the 671 illegal taxi drivers were fined on the spot.

He said a fine of Dh5,000 will be slapped on erring drivers for the first time and Dh10,000 fine in case of repetition."

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Illegal taxi drivers shall be tracked down in all traffic systems across the country, he pointed out. "RTA Sharjah spares no effort to curb all illegal shuttle services."

The erring drivers were nabbed by RTA Sharjah staff quality controllers, who are armed with judicial power, Al Nuaimi explained. "It is illegal for any driver to give a lift to any passenger without being licensed for the same."

Illegal taxi drivers pose a grave risk to the entire society, he pointed out. "Passengers may fall prey to criminals, robbers or kidnappers whom they ask for a lift despite being unlicensed or controlled by the bodies concerned."

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Abdulaziz Al Jarwan, Director of RTA Sharjah for Transport Affairs, earlier told Khaleej Times that the RTA Sharjah had assigned 55 judicially powered quality controllers to provide a safer trip for the public, better control staff drivers' work, and curb violations.

"Most of the unlicensed drivers were nabbed downtown, particularly busy areas including Rolla, Al Jubail, Sharjah International Airport, Al Sajja and the industrial areas where most of the blue-collar workers are staying, working, and gathering."

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com



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