XN000022-1978-12-15 — Page 2

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1978

ERRANT TAXI DRIVERS LIABLE TO HEAVIER PENALTIES

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ERRANT TAXI DRIVERS WHO TAKE THE PUBLIC FOR A RIDE WILL FACE STIFFER PENALTIES UNDER PROPOSED LEGISLATION PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).

NOT ONLY WILL THEY BE LIABLE TO HEAVIER FINES, BUT THEY MAY ALSO BE DISQUALIFIED FOR SERIOUS CONTRAVENTIONS OF THE REGULATIONS.

UNDER THE BILL, OFFENCES SUCH AS MISUSE OF THE AVAILABLE FOR HIRE' FLAG, NOT DRIVING TO THE DESTINATION REQUESTED OR BY THE MOST DIRECT ROUTE, REFUSAL TO CARRY PASSENGERS, CHARGING FARES OTHER THAN ACCORDING TO THE SCHEDULE TO THE REGULATIONS, AND LOITERING WILL BE LIABLE TO A FINE OF $3,000 AND A SIX MONTHS" PRISON SENTENCE,

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT, UP UNTIL NOW, AN OFFENDER UNDER THE ROAD TRAFFIC (TAXIS, PUBLIC OMNIBUSES, PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES AND PUBLIC CARS) REGULATIONS HAS BEEN LIABLE TO A $500 FINE AND TO IMPRISONMENT FOR THREE MONTHS FOR A FIRST CONVICTION AND TO A FINE OF $1,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR SIX MONTHS FOR SECOND AND SUBSEQUENT CONVICTIONS.

+ THE MAXIMUM FINE IS THUS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED AND THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND OFFENCES REMOVED,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE SAID DISQUALIFICATION CAN BE IMPOSED IN SERIOUS CONTRAVENTIONS OF THE REGULATIONS, IN ADDITION TO THE IMPOSITION OF A FINE.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE OFFENCES FOR WHICH A MAGISTRATE COULD DISQUALIFY A DRIVER IN FUTURE WERE

* WILFULLY REFUSING OR NEGLECTING TO ACCEPT A HIRE FROM A

HIRER WHETHER THE INTENTION OF THE HIRER IS INDICATED EXPRESSLY OR BY IMPLICATION-

REFUSING OR NEGLECTING TO DRIVE THE TAXI FROM A TAXI STAND TO ANY PLACE INDICATED BY THE HIRER-

* REFUSING OR NEGLECTING TO DRIVE THE TAXI TO ANY PLACE

INDICATED BY A HIRER, HAVING RESPONDED TO A HAIL FROM THE HIRER AND

* REFUSING OR NEGLECTING TO DRIVE THE TAXI TO ANY PLACE INDICATED BY A HIRER WHEN REQUESTED OTHERWISE THAN AT A TAXI STAND OR AFTER RESPONDING TO A HAIL.

THE BILL IS THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) (NO. 4) BILL 1978 WHICH WILL BE INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY (DECEMBER 20).

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