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601 motorists fined over illegal taxi service

Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA) has fined 601 motorists for running illegal taxi service in the first three months of the year.
Rashid Al Nuaimi, Head of Violations Section at SRTA, said the 601 illegal taxi violations, involving different nationalities, spanned 246 in January, 164 in February, and 191 in March.
"These are compared to 303 violations recorded over the same three months last year, including 90 in January, 85 in February, and 128 in March," Al Nuaimi said.
Al Nuaimi added that up to 575 of the 601 motorists, who used their private vehicles for taxi service, were fined in their presence.
"Only 26 tickets were issued in the drivers' absentia," he said.
Erring drivers will get Dh5,000 fine for first violation, and the fine will hit Dh10,000, for repeated violations and also if issued in absentia.
All illegal taxi drivers shall be tracked down in all traffic systems across the country, he said, adding that, "it is illegal to offer lift to any passenger without being licensed for the same."
Al Nuaimi warned: "Passengers may fall prey to criminals, robbers or kidnappers whom they ask for a lift despite being unlicensed or controlled by the bodies concerned."
Official figures show that the four franchise taxi companies operating in the emirate of Sharjah are running 5,009 cabs (1,450 each, and 1,210 Sharjah Taxi) in Sharjah city.
Abdulaziz Al Jarwan, Director of RTA Sharjah for Transport Affairs, earlier told Khaleej Times that SRTA had assigned 55 judicially powered quality controllers to provide a safer trip for the public, better control staff drivers' work, and curb violations.
"Our inspectors issued 2,268 fines against and bus and car drivers last year for transporting passengers illegally. As many as 22 campaigns were launched across all parts of the emirate, particularly the hotspots, Al Rolla, Al Jubail, Sharjah International Airport, Al Saga, and the industrial areas."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com
 

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