Bad taxi drivers could lose license

The Transport Bureau received a record high number of customer complaints over taxi services last year (1,559) but only 172 led to a fine, warning or recommendation

The new regulation on taxis, currently being drafted, could allow authorities to terminate the professional license of drivers who receive many complaints, the Transport Bureau (DSAT) said.
The bylaw that regulates the transport of passengers in taxis or rental cars is currently being revised. And DSAT is considering “the introduction of a regime to suspend or even terminate the taxi driver’s professional license,” the bureau told Tribuna de Macau.
The possibility is being discussed after authorities received a record high number of customer complaints over taxi services: 1,559, an average of more than four complaints a day.
The biggest slice (31 percent) was due to the refusal to take passenger and, according to official figures quoted by the Portuguese-language newspaper, the same reason led to half (240 cases) of all 459 infractions punished.
On the other hand, only a small number of the customer complaints led to either a fine (63) or to a warning or recommendation (109). The remaining 1,294 cases were filed.
Many customers “were unable to present essential information on the cases or they were unwilling to meet the drivers face-to-face,” DSAT explained, and so “the cases were filed after the taxi drivers were given a warning or recommendation”.