XN000022-1989-06-22 — Page 14

THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 1989

13

RAISING THE FACTOR FROM 39 TO 43 WOULD RESULT IN AN AVERAGE INCREASE OF ABOUT 10 PER CENT OR $150 PER MONTH OVER CURRENT PERMITTED RENTS, AND WOULD BRING SUCH RENTS TO ABOUT 79 PER CENT THE PREVAILING MARKET LEVEL.

OF

1989.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THESE PROPOSED CHANGES CAN APPROACH THE DISTRICT OFFICES AND THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT.

IF APPROVED, THIS PROPOSAL WOULD TAKE EFFECT FROM NOVEMBER

1.

PENALTY FOR TAXI MALPRACTICES TO BE INCREASED

THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAS APPROVED THE INCREASE IN PENALTY FOR TAXI OFFENCES TO CURB MALPRACTICES.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE MAXIMUM FINE FOR SOME TAXI MALPRACTICE OFFENCES WOULD BE INCREASED FROM $3,000 TO $5,000. THE MAXIMUM IMPRISONMENT TERM OF SIX MONTHS WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED.

THE AMENDMENT REGULATIONS TO INCREASE THE PENALTY AGAINST TAXI MALPRACTICE OFFENCES UNDER THE ROAD TRAFFIC (PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES) REGULATIONS WILL BE GAZETTED AND COME INTO FORCE ON JUNE 30 THIS YEAR.

THE OFFENCES UNDER THE ROAD TRAFFIC (PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES) REGULATIONS THAT WOULD CARRY HEAVIER PENALTIES INCLUDE:

*

*

*

REFUSING HIRE;

FAILURE TO TAKE PASSENGERS TO THEIR DESIRED DESTINATIONS;

REFUSING TO CARRY SUCH NUMBER OF PASSENGERS, NOT EXCEEDING THE NUMBER SPECIFIED IN THE VEHICLE LICENCE IN RESPECT OF

THE TAXI, AS MAY BE REQUIRED TO CARRY BY THE HIRER;

FAILURE TO TAKE THE MOST DIRECT PRACTICABLE ROUTE;

PERMITTING OTHER PASSENGERS ΤΟ ENTER TAXI WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE HIRER;

* SOLICITING PASSENGERS;

* LOITERING OR STOPPING ELSEWHERE THAN AT A TAXI STAND WHILE

AVAILABLE FOR HIRE;

*

OVERCHARGING; AND

* METER RELATED OFFENCES.

/OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE