XN000022-1994-10-26 — Page 85

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1994

69

REPLY

MR PRESIDENT,

COMPLAINTS AGAINST OVERCHARGING BY TAXI DRIVERS COVER TWO BROAD TAXI-METER CATEGORIES, NAMELY CHEATING (INCLUDING SHORT-CHANGING) AND OFFENCES (INCLUDING TAXI-METERS RUNNING FAST).

THE NUMBERS OF PROSECUTIONS FOR CHEATING OFFENCES HAVE REMAINED CONSTANT IN THE PAST FEW YEARS. HOWEVER, THE NUMBERS OF FOR TAXI-METER OFFENCES HAVE DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY

PROSECUTIONS BECAUSE OF

SYNDICATES

SUCCESSFUL POLICE OPERATIONS

IN EARLY 1992 AGAINST TAMPERING WITH THE ELECTRONIC TAXI-METERS. IN ADDITION, IN OCTOBER 1992, TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT LAID DOWN SPECIFIC GUIDELINES ON HOW TO SEAL

INSPECTIONS TAXI-METERS AND NOW CHECK THESE DURING PERIODIC TAXIS.

OF

IN

FOLLOWING THESE MEASURES, THE POLICE HAVE ONLY FOUND SUFFICIENT PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE TO PROSECUTE 26 CASES IN RESPECT OF TAXI-METER OFFENCES IN 1993 AS COMPARED TO 204 IN 1990; 192 IN 1991; AND 169 1992.

PERCEIVE NOTWITHSTANDING THIS, THE PUBLIC CONTINUE TO METER OFFENCES AS A COMMON MALPRACTICE. THIS EXPLAINS WHY THE OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST OVERCHARGING HAS REMAINED HIGH. A BREAKDOWN THESE FIGURES IS ANNEXED.

TAXI- NUMBER

OF

THE LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENT FOR THE COMPULSORY DISPLAY OF BY TAXI DRIVERS CAME INTO EFFECT IN JULY. BETWEEN DRIVERS THE

PLATES IDENTITY JULY AND SEPTEMBER 1994, ONLY 12 COMPLAINTS AGAINST TAXI FAILING TO DISPLAY IDENTITY PLATES WERE RECEIVED. THIS INDICATES REQUIREMENT HAS GENERALLY BEEN COMPLIED WITH. SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTIONS ARE

WILLINGNESS SUBJECT TO A NUMBER OF FACTORS INCLUDING PASSENGERS'

IDENTIFICATION TO GIVE EVIDENCE, THE QUALITY OF SUCH EVIDENCE AND THE

THE OFFENDING TAXI DRIVERS. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO ATTRIBUTE ANY

SINGLE

OF FACTOR TO THE SUCCESS OR OTHERWISE

A PROSECUTION. NONETHELESS THE INTRODUCTION OF IDENTITY PLATES HAS GENERALLY ASSISTED THE POLICE IN VERIFYING THE IDENTITY OF OFFENDING TAXI DRIVERS.

ONE

COMPLAINTS RECEIVED AND PROSECUTIONS AGAINST OVERCHARGING

BY TAXI DRIVERS (1990

+

1994)

ANNEX

COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY

TCU COMPLAINTS

YEAR

TCU

REFERRED TO THE POLICE

COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY POLICE DIRECT

PROSECUTIONS*

1990

408

214

199

230

1991

455

222

205

222

1992

1168

561

201

214

1993

1084

543

241

79

1994

917

567

158

55

(JAN-SEP)

/*BREAKDOWN OF