32 complaints of taxi fare cheats in first half of 2012

SINGAPORE: The Public Transport Council and Land Transport Authority received 32 complaints of passengers failing to pay taxi fares in the first six months of 2012.

This is compared to the yearly average of 10 complaints for the period of January 2008 to June 2011.

Following an effort by taxi operators and the National Taxi Association to encourage cabbies to lodge reports against fare evaders, the number of complaints rose to 66 for the period of July 2011 to December 2011.

Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew gave the figures as part of a written response to Member of Parliament Dr Janil Puthucheary, who asked the minister for an update on the number of complaints received for cheating taxi drivers of fares as well as the steps taxi operators are taking to ensure the redress process is not too complicated or cumbersome.

The last five years saw only one serial taxi fare evader convicted while two other cases are currently pending court mention.

The minister also stated that taxi operators have a standard form for drivers to lodge reports on non—payment of taxi fares, with some operators even accepting electronic submissions.

After the reports are lodged, taxi operators help their drivers recover unpaid fares from passengers.

If this fails, cases are referred to the authorities for investigation.

— CNA/jc