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Asian cabbies lead booked drivers in Sharjah

Sharjah - 1,179 tickets were issued against cabbies across the emirate of Sharjah in the first six months of this year.

Asian cabbies with the four taxi companies operating in the emirate of Sharjah are on top of the drivers booked in the first of half of the year. 
Official records show that 1,179 tickets were issued against cabbies across the emirate of Sharjah in the first six months of this year. 
Those represent a 47 percent hike as compared to the fines registered over the same period last year which saw 801 tickets, according to Rashid Al Nuaimi, head of violations section with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) Sharjah. 
"Failing to run the trip meter, smelling bad, stopping in a sudden, risky, and improper way, ignoring head shoulder rule, wearing no or unclean uniform, and snubbing personal and taxi cleanliness are most of the breaches spotted."   
However, cabbies of Asian origin are on top of the list of erring taxi drivers, he pointed out. "Up to 1,107 Asian taxi drivers were booked for being involved in most of the violations registered in Half-1." 
Al Nuaimi said 1,138 out 1,179 fines recorded from January 01 to June 30, were issued in the presence of erring drivers. "These are compared to 41 tickets issued in absentia." 

Warning, he said a heftier fine up to Dh10,000 is slapped against erring driver in case the ticket is issued in his absentia. "A wanted letter is also issued against him in all emirates." 
However, the erring driver has to shell out a fine of Dh5,000 if the ticket is issued in his presence, and if it was for the first time, Al Nuaimi pointed out. "The fine is doubled to Dh10,000 in case of repetition." 
Fines from Dh200 to Dh3,000 are also slapped against drivers according to the type, impact and repetition of the violations detected, he elaborated. "A cabbie can be suspended and even sacked for unacceptable violations, such as odorous smell." 
RTA Sharjah never tolerate behavioural violations such as harassing, brawling or abusing others, be they drivers or passengers, using abusive language, and making indecent signals, he underlined. 
"These are considered red violations and are never tolerated by our 50 staff quality controllers of inspectors who are not only well trained but also armed with judicial power, and keep an eye on all cabbies round the clock." 
Failing to keep the cab clean costs the driver Dh200 and two black points, Al Nuaimi explained. "Should he got 24 black points, his permit is shrugged, and his service is terminated with RTA Sharjah." 
The same penalty applies to incompliance with uniform, he said. "However, Dh500 and five black points are imposed on any cabbie spotted while littering or spitting out of his cab." 
Al Nuaimi said that 4,700 cabbies are driving 5,200 cabs across the emirate of Sharjah. "Up to 1,239 of these are working with Sharjah Taxi, 1,077 with Citi Taxi, 1,135 with Union Taxi, and 1,247 with Emirates Taxi." 
Urging, he said the public is advised to report any illegal or improper cabbie's practices to the Call Centre on (600525252) round the clock and seven days a week. "RTA Sharjah spares no effort to provide the best and most convenient shuttle service to its customers."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com