XN000022-1994-01-25 — Page 5

TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1994

THE

TAC DISCUSSES TAXI REVIEW

ADVISORY TRANSPORT

COMMITTEE (TAC) TODAY (TUESDAY)

REVIEW DISCUSSED THE FINAL REPORT OF THE WORKING GROUP ON TAXI POLICY

ON AND ENDORSED RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT TO DAMPEN LICENCE PREMIA AND TO IMPROVE TAXI SERVICE.

SPECULATION

RECOMMENDED LICENCES

то CURB SPECULATIVE ACTIVITIES, THE WORKING GROUP THERE SHOULD BE NO PRE-SET QUOTA ON THE NUMBER OF TAXI TO BE ISSUED.

THAT

REGARD

LICENCES SHOULD BE ISSUED AS AND WHEN NECESSARY, HAVING TO THE DEMAND FOR TAXI SERVICES, THE FINANCIAL VIABILITY OF THE TRADE, AND THE CAPACITY OF THE ROAD SYSTEM.

ΤΟ

IT MAKE

MORE DIFFICULT FOR MANIPULATIVE SPECULATION ON LICENCE PREMIA, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT IN A PUBLIC AND ONLY BID FOR ONE LICENCE EACH APPLICANT LICENCES IS NOT PERMITTED WITHIN 12 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF ISSUE.

CAN

TENDER EXERCISE, TRANSFER OF NEW

OF

IT IS ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT THE PROCEDURE FOR THE TRANSFER

BUYER AND TAXI LICENCES SHOULD BE FORMALISED BY REQUIRING BOTH THE SELLER TO REGISTER THE TRANSFER IN PERSON.

THE PROPOSED ARRANGEMENT AIMS TO STAMP OUT THE CURRENT PRACTICE OF MAKING INFORMAL TRANSFERS BEFORE THE FINAL TRANSFER IS REGISTERED.

ΤΟ

ALSO SUPPORTED THE WORKING GROUP'S VIEW THAT THE TAC INTRODUCE A NEW SEVEN-YEAR NON-TRANSFERABLE LICENCE SHOULD NOT PURSUED BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT OFFER ANY JOB-SECURITY FOR THE DRIVER" SINCE THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE LICENCE WILL BE

PROPOSAL

BE

UPON EXPIRY.

"OWNER- RENEWED

THE THE UNCERTAINTY OVER RENEWAL PROSPECT AND MOREOVER,

OF THE LICENCE WOULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR TRANSFERABILITY APPLICANTS TO SECURE MORTGAGE ARRANGEMENTS.

NON- THE

ON TAXI SERVICE, TAC SHARED THE WORKING GROUP'S

THE QUALITY OF SERVICE THE DETERIORATION IN GROWING NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT MALPRACTICE.

AS REFLECTED

CONCERN OVER IN THE

WAS IT

NOTED THAT THE POLICE HAD

UP STEPPED

ENFORCEMENT

ACTIONS.

IN

PARALLEL,

MAXIMUM

THE THE WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDED THAT PENALTIES FOR MOST TAXI OFFENCES SHOULD BE INCREASED FROM $5,000 TO AT LEAST $10,000 TO PRODUCE AN EFFECTIVE DETERRENT EFFECT.

THE

WIDESPREAD MORE

OFFENCES, SUCH AS

SOLICITING,

HIRE REFUSING SHOULD ALSO BE BROUGHT UNDER THE FIXED PENALTIES SYSTEM.

AND

IN ADDITION,

AGAINST TAXI PROCEDURES FOR LODGING COMPLAINTS MALPRACTICES SHOULD BE SIMPLIFIED TO FACILITATE REPORTING, FOR EXAMPLE BE GIVEN то COMPLAINT FORM SHOULD BE INTRODUCED AND CONSIDERATION REQUIRING DRIVERS TO ISSUE PRE-PRINTED FARE RECEIPTS TO PASSENGERS REQUEST.

ON

/ON TAXI