XN000022-1979-01-18 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 1979

THE CHIEF STAFF OFFICER OF THE POLICE TRAFFIC HEADQUARTERS, MR. KEITH LOMAS EXPLAINED THE DETAILS.

HE SAID: +STARTING ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, SUCH OFFENCES BY TAXI DRIVERS AS TAMPERING WITH THE METER, NOT DRIVING TO THE DESTINATION REQUIRED, NOT DRIVING BY THE MOST DIRECT ROUTE, REFUSING TO ACCEPT A HIRE, AND OVER-CHARGING WILL BE SUBJECT TO A FINE OF $3,000 AND SIX MONTHS IMPRISONMENT.*

+ THE MORE SERIOUS OF THESE TAXI OFFENCES, SUCH AS REFUSAL TO ACCEPT A HIRE, NOT DRIVING TO THE PLACE INDICATED BY THE HIRER AND OVERCHARGING, CAN LEAD TO SUSPENSION OF THE CULPRIT TAXI DRIVER'S LICENCE.+

MR, LOMAS SAID THE NEW REGULATIONS ALSO CLARIFY THE OFFENCE OF REFUSING A HIRE. IN FUTURE, HE SAID, 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 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. ARMSTRONG-WRIGHT STRESSED THAT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE NEW SANCTIONS AND PENALTIES WOULD DEPEND HEAVILY ON THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE WILLING TO MAKE COMPLAINTS AND TO GO THROUGH THE NECESSARY PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW THEM UP.

HE SAID: THE POLICE, I AM SURE, WILL CONTINUE WITH THE STRENUOUS EFFORT THEY HAVE RECENTLY BEEN MAKING TO COMBAT MALPRACTICES BY TAXI DRIVERS AND WILL BE READY TO ASSIST THE PUBLIC IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE TO PRESS THEIR COMPLAINTS.+

HE ADDED +THE PACKAGE OF THESE NEW ARRANGEMENTS TO

IMPROVE TAXI SERVICES INCLUDED THE ISSUE OF NEW TAXI LICENCES AT THE RATE OF 100 PER MONTH AND THAT THIS, AND THE OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE PACKAGE WOULD BE REVIEWED LATER IN THE YEAR.+