XN000022-1978-12-20 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1978

MR. JONES SAID THE GOVERNMENT INTENDED TO CONTINUE.. ISSUING URBAN TAXI LICENCES AT THE RATE OF 100 A MONTH AND AN EXAMINATION HAS ALSO BEEN MADE OF THE CURRENT SYSTEM OF TENDERING FOR LICENCES WITH A VIEW TO SEE ING WHETHER IMPROVEMENTS COULD BE INTRODUCED.

HE SAID THE ANNUAL LICENCE FEE FOR URBAN TAXIS AT $320 WAS LESS THAN HALF THE AVERAGE LICENCE FEE FOR A PRIVATE CAR. THIS CHARGE SEEMED TO BE VERY LOW AND IT MIGHT WELL, IN DUE COURSE, NEEDED TO BE RECONSIDERED.

ON THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) (NO. 4) BILL, HE SAID ITS PURPOSE WAS TO PROVIDE FOR STIFFER SANCTIONS AGAINST TAXI DRIVERS WHO ENGAGE IN MALPRACTICES.

THE BILL SEEKS TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM PENALTY TO A FINE OF $3,000 AND SIX MONTHS IMPRISONMENT FOR SUCH OFFENCES BY TAXI DRIVERS AS TAMPER ING WITH THE METRE, NOT DRIVING TO THE DESTINATION REQUIRED, NOT DRIVING BY THE MOST DIRECT ROUTE OR REFUSAL OF A HIRE.

A FURTHER PENALTY PROPOSED IN THE BILL IS TO EXTEND THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH A COURT OR MAGISTRATE CAN SUSPEND A DRIVER'S LICENCE TO INCLUDE THE MORE SERIOUS TAXI MALPRACTICES WHICH ARE BASICALLY, REFUSAL TO ACCEPT A HIRE, OR TO DRIVE THE TAXI TO THE PLACE INDICATED BY THE HIRER AND OVERCHARGING.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE BILL SEEKS TO CLARIFY THE OFFENCE OF REFUSING A HIRE, BY ALTERING THE REGULATIONS TO REFLECT THE ACTUAL SITUATION IN WHICH TAX IS ARE HAILED ON THE STREETS AND TO DEFINE A HIRER IN SUCH A WAY AS TO INCLUDE A PERSON SEEKING A HIRE.

THIS MEANS, IF A TAXI DRIVER RESPONDS TO A HAIL FROM AN INTENDING PASSENGER AND THEN REFUSES TO ACCEPT THE HIRE, HE WILL BE COMMITTING AN OFFENCE. ACTIONS SUCH AS DISPLAYING AN OUT OF SERVICE SIGN OR LOCKING THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE WILL NOT BE MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES BECAUSE, BY THE VERY ACT OF RESPONDING TO THE HAIL. THE TAXI DRIVER WILL BE CONSIDERED TO HAVE ACCEPTED THE HIRE AND WILL BE REQUIRED BY LAW TO TAKE THE HIRER TO THE DESTINATION NAMED.

MR. JONES SAID THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE NEW SANCTIONS AND PENALTIES WOULD DEPEND HEAVILY ON THE PUBLIC WHO ARE WILLING TO MAKE COMPLAINTS AND TO GO THROUGH THE NECESSARY PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW THEM UP.

HE ALSO ASSURED THAT THE POLICE WOULD CONTINUE WITH THE STRENUOUS EFFORT THEY HAD RECENTLY BEEN MAKING TO COMBAT MALPRACTICES BY TAXI DRIVERS AND WOULD BE READY TO ASSIST THE PUBLIC IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE TO PRESS THE IR COMPLAINTS.

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