19 drivers caught offering illegal ride-hailing services in Singapore and across border with Malaysia
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This is the first time the LTA and ICA conducted such an operation at a land checkpoint.
PHOTOS: LTA/FACEBOOK
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- 19 drivers were caught on 5 August for illegally offering ride-hailing services in Singapore and to Malaysia.
- The drivers were caught at Gardens by the Bay, Changi Airport and a land checkpoint; vehicles were impounded by the authorities.
- LTA is increasing enforcement as these services risk passenger safety and harm licensed drivers' earnings, according to Sun Xueling.
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SINGAPORE – Some 19 drivers were caught offering illegal ride-hailing services within Singapore and across the border with Malaysia on Aug 5.
They were caught in a combined operation by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority that targeted such activities at a land checkpoint, and through LTA’s patrols at Gardens by the Bay and Changi Airport.
This is the first time the agencies has conducted such an operation at a land checkpoint.
In a statement posted on its Facebook page on Aug 6, LTA said the vehicles involved were impounded.
When asked, LTA did not say at which of the two checkpoints the crackdown happened, but a video shared on social media seen by The Straits Times suggests it was at Tuas Checkpoint.
According to LTA, 136 drivers have been caught providing illegal cross-border passenger transport services since 2022, and their foreign-registered vehicles were impounded.
Those who have been charged and convicted so far have been fined up to $2,600 and had the vehicles forfeited.
Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling said in a Facebook post on Aug 6 that LTA was ramping up its enforcement against such illegal services because those drivers do not have the proper licence and insurance coverage for the passengers they might be ferrying.
“Such services put passengers at risk, and harm the livelihoods of law-abiding licensed drivers,” she said.
Ms Sun said the Government is looking into improving the existing licensed cross-border taxi scheme by expanding the boarding and alighting points, and encouraging more taxis to participate.
This includes getting different vehicle types to serve different passenger needs, and having a user-friendly booking app – something that currently does not exist.
“As these are reciprocal arrangements that we have with Malaysia, these changes have to be agreed by both governments,” she added.
Efforts to clamp down on illegal transport services have been stepped up recently.
LTA said on July 29 that through tip-offs from the National Private Hire Vehicles Association and regular patrols, 12 drivers were caught
This came shortly after an earlier operation conducted on July 18 at Changi Airport caught 10 drivers offering illegal ride-hailing services
Under current legislation, offering point-to-point transport services in Singapore and cross-border services without a valid Public Service Vehicle Licence (PSVL) is an offence that carries a fine of up to $3,000, a jail term of up to six months, or both.
The vehicles used can also be forfeited.
Only Singapore- and Malaysia-registered taxis approved by the authorities of both countries are allowed to offer cross-border transport. These taxis can pick up and drop off passengers only at designated locations.
Besides the PSVL, Malaysia-registered taxis must also have an Asean Public Service Vehicle Permit.
