Cabbies continue illegal touting business
Taxi touts continue to plague the area outside Orchard Towers in Orchard Road.
Reporters checked out the area recently and found touts still harassing Caucasians to take their taxis.
Such a phenomenon has been reported multiple times in the media and appears to continue unabated.
More than ten taxis were observed to be parked along the road outside Orchard Towers on Saturday evening (3 Mar).
The taxis would put up 'Busy' or 'On Call' signs to turn away ordinary customers, while the cabbies approach foreigners, mainly Caucasians, to take their cabs.
In these transactions, the cabbies do not use the fare meter and instead quote prices to their customers.
These charges are often double the normal charge on the fare meter.
Reporters overheard a tourist asking to go to the Rochor Road area at about 11pm.
The tourist was quoted a flat fee of $20, for a trip that is estimated to take around six minutes and will normally cost less than $10 on the fare meter.
The taxis involved in touting are known to move off when police patrols arrive, but the cabbies quickly return to resume business after the police leave.
Such touting is not allowed and cabbies caught will be penalised with 12 demerit points and fined $500.
If cabbies attempt to overcharge by a difference of more than $20, they can receive 21 demerit points and have their taxi licence suspended.
~News courtesy of Omy~
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