“Celebrity” taxi driver, sentenced to six weeks in prison, licence suspended for one year, and required to take a driving improvement course

^{Police arrest the suspect and impound his taxi Photo: 嘉顺摄/HK01}

A 31-year-old taxi driver from the New Territories was convicted of “dangerous driving” on the 21 May and sentenced to six weeks’ imprisonment, a one-year driving ban, and required to attend a driving improvement course at his own expense at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts.

As BUZZ reported, East Kowloon police officers discovered that the driver’s driving behaviour seriously disregarded the safety of passengers and other road users. On 1 May, officers, posing as passengers, boarded the driver’s taxi in Sai Kung Country Park and continuously gathered evidence along the way.

The driver was driving at speeds far exceeding the speed limit and weaving in and out of traffic in the busy country park area. The officers eventually safely stopped the vehicle and arrested the driver on suspicion of “dangerous driving.”

It was reported that the taxi driver was a popular figure in the taxi industry, with over 73,000 followers on his social media accounts. In addition, during the Lunar New Year and May Day Golden Week this year, officers arrested 10 drivers for overcharging fares. All of them have been convicted and sentenced. The crackdown on related taxi violations will continue during the National Day Golden Week.