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Taxi drivers tampering with meters
Following is a question by the Hon Ip Kwok-him and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport, Mr Haider Barma, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
In view of the fact that the police has recently discovered two cases of taxi drivers tampering with taximeters by various means in order to cheat passengers into paying excessive fares, will the Government inform this Council:
(a)
(b)
-(c)
of the total number of complaints involving taximeters received by the police in the past year;
whether the Government will adopt any measures to speed up the installation of anti-tampering device in taximeters of the 12 000 taxis in the territory which have not yet been installed with such a device; if not, why not; and
whether the Government will increase the frequency of inspection of taximeters, which at present is conducted once every six months; and whether consideration will be given to imposing heavier penalties on taxi drivers tampering with taximeters as a deterrent, so as to protect the interests of consumers?
Reply:
Mr President,
In 1995, the Police received a total of 2 956 complaints against taxi malpractices. Of this number, 739 complaints related to taximeter offences.
The law requires the owner of a taxi to submit his taxi to the Transport Department every six months so that the taximeter can be tested, stamped and sealed. This is to ensure that the meter is set properly and will make an accurate recording of the fare. More frequent inspections would not eradicate meter tampering where it does not involve breaking the seal, because the evidence of tempering can be removed before the taximeter is presented for inspection.