DRIVE A2B February 2021

FARE EVASION
Bilking a taxi fare; is
it a crime or a civil
dispute?
by Perry Richardson | TaxiPoint UK
According to West Midlands (United Kingdom) Police, if a
passenger in the vehicle refuses to pay a taxi fare and is trying
to leave the cab without paying then this is theft and should
be reported by calling 999.
JustGrab option on rival Grab’s mobile app.
Only in-app cashless payments will be accepted for
the ride-hailing option, ComfortDelGro said, adding
that there are no administrative fees for payments
via credit or debit cards, or other cashless payment
modes.
Passengers who hail a taxi would usually have to pay
such a fee — costing 10 per cent of the fare — when
paying via credit or debit card.
The company added that it would be recruiting a
“small group” of private-hire drivers for the trial to
collect feedback, adding that it would gradually invite
more drivers as demand grows.
Driver assistance
Singapore’s taxi industry took a massive hit due to
the COVID-19 pandemic, with some drivers reporting
up to a 70 per cent fall in income during the “circuit
breaker” period as tourist numbers fell and many
people worked from home.
In December last year, the authorities announced
that taxi and private-hire car drivers would receive an
additional S$133 (AU$130) million in support from
the Government in the form of a new COVID-19 Driver
Relief Fund.
The fund will provide drivers with S$600 (AUS$585)per
vehicle per month between January and March this
year, and S$450 (AU$440) between April and June.
Officers do however state that cabbies should never put
themselves in danger trying to stop passengers leaving the
vehicle. Cab drivers are urged to always stay in the taxi where
they can call for help if an incident takes place.
For the cabbies experiencing a fleet footed runner, what
should they do if someone runs off without parting with the
hard-earned cash owing to them?
According to the officers at West Midlands Police (WMP)
cabbies should first direct themselves online to report the
incident. Many other police forces around the UK will have
similar avenues to report ‘bilkers’, along with Live Chat
facilities. If the cab driver can’t make the report using the
online options call police direct on 101.
WMP goes on to add via their website: “If you ever feel unsafe
or unsure about taking a job, refuse it. But please be mindful
that it is an offence for a licensed driver to refuse to take a
journey without a reasonable excuse. The fact the customer is
drunk or the route distance is too short is not an excuse.”
“You may wish to consider asking for payment before starting
the journey.”
The WMP advice goes on to explain when a disagreement
over the fare might become a civil matter. The police say: “If
a customer has concerns about the route taken or the cost
then this should be raised with the driver or their company.
Disputes like this are civil matters and not criminal and
therefore not a policing matter.”
“The driver and customer must try to settle the dispute, but if
not should exchange details and the matter can be raised as a
small claims case.”
DRIVE A2B magazine · www.drivea2b.com.au · February 2021
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