Private vehicles operating as taxis without proper permits will be de-registered, warns the Land Transport Authority (LTA).
LTA’s chief executive officer Naisa Tuinaceva sounded the warning after a they impounded a number of private vehicles operating illegally as taxis.
“They have gone to a point where private cars have fixed the taxi meters and that is bad,” Mr Tuinaceva said.
“People are disregarding the law so instead of fining these illegal vehicle operators, we will de-register them. People know it is wrong to operate as taxis without a proper permit however they continue to do so. We are asking people to stop this.
“They are deceiving the public, it is illegal, dangerous and the authority will not condone this.”
The LTA will de-register the vehicle licence and suspend the driving licence for these illegal operators.
“There are fines in place for illegal operation but it does not make any difference to these illegal operators so the best thing is not to allow them back on the road,” Mr Tuinaceva said.
“We need to eradicate all illegal operations and taxi drivers need to be consistent with their services to close any gaps that allow illegal operation to fill.”
The authority will also continue its festive season operation of policing and monitoring.
Mr Tuinaceva is calling on all road users, especially the drivers, to be extra cautious and to drive within the speed limit.