Police impound two green taxis involved in the overcharging operation Photos: HKPF
The East Kowloon Regional Traffic Department reported that it had conducted Operation “駒始” in the Sai Kung area yesterday (30/4) to crack down on illegal taxi practices, such as overcharging, ahead of the May Day Golden Week holiday. Police officers, posing as passengers, arrested two local men, aged 43 and 66, on suspicion of “overcharging,” “failing to display their taxi driver’s license on the document holder,” and “failing to display the taxi meter indicator,” respectively. Preliminary investigations revealed that the arrested individuals did not charge according to the meter, ultimately collecting approximately HK$300 and HK$540, about twice the original fare. All taxis involved have been impounded for further inspection.
In addition, police officers found two urban taxis with “Not Accepting Passengers” signs displayed and parked at the front of the taxi stand. After investigation, the two taxi drivers, aged 50 and 32 respectively, were ticketed for “violations of conduct at a taxi stand”. One of the taxis was also towed away for inspection due to its defects.
A red taxi was impounded owing to suspected defects
Police stated that they take the case of taxi overcharging very seriously. During the Lunar New Year period in February this year, seven arrested drivers in East Dam were convicted and fined between $3,000 and $6,000 each, and had 10 points deducted from their licenses under the taxi violation point system.
Under Hong Kong law, overcharging for fares is a serious offense, punishable by up to six months imprisonment and a fine of HK$10,000 on a first conviction. The police will continue to enforce the law decisively to combat related taxi violations in order to protect the rights of citizens and tourists, maintain Hong Kong’s international image, and remind all drivers not to break the law.
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