JEDDAH — Taxi drivers who charge extra fare face fines and other penalties, according to an official source at the Ministry of Transport. The ministry has ordered taxis not to raise fares and warned of several penalties for violators. Penalties begin with an initial fine of SR500 for a driver and a note against the company or institution. Repeat violations will result in fines up to SR5,000 and even harsher penalties. The source said that the ministry is coordinating with traffic departments to target drivers who do not adhere to taximeters. Taxi fares increased by more than 60 percent recently from SR15 to SR25. Taxi drivers blamed higher fuel prices for fare hike. Abdul Rahman Al-Ghamdi, a Saudi national, said taxi drivers increased fares with the increase in fuel prices. Muhammad Al-Alehyana, another Saudi national, accused taxi companies of using fuel price as an excuse to raise fares. He called on the Ministry of Transport to take measures against such companies and impose penalties.
