This October, with consecutive holidays including the Mid-Autumn Festival, National Day, and Retrocession Day, many citizens have planned travel or homecoming trips. To safeguard the rights and interests of taxi passengers, the Taichung City Government’s Transportation Bureau, in collaboration with local police precincts, has conducted ongoing inspections of taxi operations during the holiday period. These inspections target violations such as taxis charging fees inappropriately or quoting fares arbitrarily. Confirmed violations will be penalized in accordance with Article 77 of the Highway Act, with fines of up to NT$90,000. These measures ensure that both residents and travelers can enjoy comfortable taxi services with peace of mind.
Transportation Bureau Director Yeh Chao-Fu noted that taxis, unrestricted by fixed schedules or routes and providing convenient direct transport, are an important part of the public transportation system. Within Taichung City, which has nearly 9,000 taxis under its jurisdiction, the Transportation Bureau issued a total of 64 fines from January to late September this year to taxi drivers who violated regulations, such as charging improperly or quoting fares arbitrarily. Enforcement was concentrated at major transportation hubs, including Taichung Station and Fengyuan Station. Violations by taxi drivers included failing to charge according to regulations, lacking a registered airport dispatch permit, operating without a valid driver’s license, and lacking a valid taxi driver practice registration certificate.
Director Yeh emphasized that the Transportation Bureau continues to educate taxi drivers to provide services in accordance with regulations. Any cases of charging passengers extra fees or quoting exorbitant fares will be investigated and, if confirmed, penalized in accordance with the law. Under Article 77 of the Highway Act, fines may range from NT$9,000 to NT$90,000. Director Yeh urged taxi drivers to comply with legal requirements and refrain from exploiting opportunities to raise fares unlawfully, as paying fines would offset the earnings from their hard work.
Director Yeh reminded the public that passengers may request a trip receipt when alighting. If a driver fails to charge properly, adds fees without consent, deliberately takes a longer route, or refuses short-distance trips, passengers can record the vehicle number, boarding time, and driver’s name, and report the incident via the citizen hotline at 1999. In addition, all taxis in Taichung City—except for certain vehicles operated by diversified taxi companies exempt from installing fare meters—are required to use meters for fare calculation, and bargaining over fares is not permitted.
The Transportation Bureau explained that when passengers need a ride, they should never use unlicensed “white-plate” taxis, as private vehicles are not legally permitted to operate for hire. In the event of a traffic accident, passengers may not be eligible for insurance compensation. Choosing a legally licensed taxi ensures both safety and legal protection.