The National Police Agency is renewing taxi driver licenses nationwide to improve security, a police officer said yesterday.
Each taxi driver will be issued two copies of the new license, one to be displayed on the windshield and the other on the back of the right front seat for the reference of passengers, the officer said.
The renewal period will last until Aug. 31, the officer said, adding that more than 10,000 of the nation's 108,962 taxi drivers have yet to renew their licenses.
The officer said that taxi drivers without the new licenses will be fined NT$1,200 from Sept. 1. He called on passengers to refuse to take taxis without the licenses and to report irregularities.
Taxi drivers who do not renew their licenses by February will have their licenses suspended and will not be allowed to apply for a new license for one year. In addition, drivers who cover, do not display or misplace licenses will be fined NT$1,500, the officer said.
Police initiated another policy in January asking taxi drivers to attend short-term training courses and take tests to improve professional knowledge and quality of service.
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