LTA cracking down on private cars plying for fares

SINGAPORE — The authorities are intensifying the hunt for private cars plying the road for fares, with more frequent checks to be conducted at busy areas or where there have been complaints.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) sounded the warning on Thursday (Dec 1), saying uniformed and plainclothes enforcement officers will make more rounds at places such as Clarke Quay, East Coast Seafood Centre, HarbourFront Centre, Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore, Resorts World Sentosa, and the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari.

Under the Road Traffic Act, private cars cannot be used to ferry passengers for fares. Private hire cars are also barred from touting or accepting street hails. The maximum penalty is six months’ jail and/or up to S$3,000 fine. The vehicle used may be forfeited.

The LTA said it has investigated 35 such cases since 2013. Of these, one driver was convicted in January while warnings were issued to 19 others. The convicted driver was fined S$15,000 and disqualified from holding all classes of driving licence for a year after he pleaded guilty to 20 charges.

A victim’s account of being duped by this particular driver of SJT1444Y had made its rounds online last year. The victim had boarded the car in Beach Road after the driver claimed to be from Uber and ended up paying S$97 for the ride to Yio Chu Kang.

LTA’s investigations revealed that the driver had illegally picked up fares, charging exorbitant fares of between S$30 and S$1,050. They also applied to court to forfeit the vehicle.