Hong Kong taxi driver gets maximum demerit points for overcharging under new penalty system

A taxi driver in Hong Kong has been slapped with the highest demerit points possible for overcharging in the first week of a new penalty system aimed at keeping cabbies on their best behaviour.

A Transport Department spokesman told the Post on Saturday that since the demerit point system’s launch on Sunday, one taxi driver was found to have overcharged, solicited business and not used the fare meter. The driver was given 10 points for overcharging.

“The Transport Department will closely monitor the situation after the implementation of the Taxi Driver-Offence Points System and maintain close liaison with the police and the judiciary,” he said.

Under the system, taxi drivers will be given demerit points for 11 types of behaviour including overcharging and refusing fares. They could be disqualified from driving cabs if they accumulated too many points within a certain time frame.

Offences incurring the highest penalty score of 10 included overcharging, wilfully refusing or neglecting to accept hire, refusing or neglecting to drive to a location indicated by the hirer and defacing, damaging or altering the meter.