The story appears on

Page A4

August 18, 2012

GET this page in PDF

Free for subscribers

View shopping cart

Related News

Home » Metro » Public Services

Toughest campaign yet to stop illegal cabs

POLICE have set up 61 checkpoints around the city in their latest campaign to crack down on illegal taxis.

All cabs will be required to stop at the checkpoints, even if they have passengers inside, so that police officers can verify whether the cabbie has a valid license.

The campaign will last one month and officers are calling it the toughest yet to take so-called cloned cabs off city streets.

In the past, police relied on experience to detect suspicious taxis. They would then stop the cab for a check when it did not disturb traffic. This proved inefficient and risky, police said.

With the checkpoints it will take less than one minute for an officer to identify a licensed cab as they will be aided by high-tech equipment, officials said.

By the end of June, electronic tags had been installed on all licensed taxis to allow for instant identification. Police will use specially made personal digital assistants to verify the digital tabs during checks.

If police find fake taxi documents, they will detain the driver and impound the vehicle, officials said.

The checkpoints will be set up mainly in areas like Lujiazui and People's Square, where illegal cabs are known to operate. Most of the check points will be near on-off ramps for elevated roads and tunnel entrances, police said. The check points will be in effect daily during the campaign from 7pm until late at night.

Private vehicles will not be stopped for checks, police added.

Traffic police estimate there are 5,000 illegal taxis operating in the city.




 

Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.

沪公网安备 31010602000204号

Email this to your friend