| Lyna Mohamad |
SOME 261 vehicles carrying out illegal taxi services around the Brunei International Airport, Muara Port and Ferry Terminal as well as bus terminals and bus stops are under the radar of the Department of Land Transport (JPD).
Muara Port and Ferry Terminal area have the largest number of illegally operating taxis. The Mall, Gadong, The Airport Mall and Serusop shopping areas are some of the other identified areas of such illegal activities.
JPD has identified 131 illegal vehicles at the Muara Port and Ferry Terminal, 94 at bus terminals and bus stops and 36 at the Brunei International Airport.
Addressing a press conference yesterday, Baha bin Haji Jamahat, Head of Road Safety and Enforcement at JPD, said that in curbing the rise of illegal taxi services in the country, the department had carried out operations at identified areas but of little or no avail.
Baha bin Haji Jamahat, Head of Road Safety and Enforcement at JPD. – SIM YH
In the continuous efforts to tackle this issue, the department changed its modus operandi whereby it started profiling of vehicles and drivers along with the patrol operations at identified areas, leading to the identification of illegal vehicles.
At the same time, public tip-offs and social networks also helped in tracking the illegal taxi services.
Conducting illegal taxi services is an offence under Road Traffic Act 56 Chapter 68 (2007) and if found guilty the offender is liable to a fine of $10,000 and six months’ imprisonment.
Currently, there are about 50 registered taxis in the country with majority operating in the Brunei-Muara District and most of them are under sole proprietorship.
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