TAIF – The Ministry of Transport has drafted a law aiming to deter owners of the taxi companies and cab drivers from misconduct in a bid to improve the quality of the service. The new law slaps penalties ranging from fines to cancellation of licenses, especially for companies that fix targets for daily income for drivers. The new draft law, which will be enforced soon, defines 68 penalties for companies and drivers. As per the law the minimum fine is SRSR300 and the highest is SR5,000. The maximum fine will be doubled if the same violation is repeated. The maximum fine of SR5,000 will be imposed for continuing operations after commercial registrations were revoked; for continuing activity during the suspension period; operating a vehicle not owned by a Saudi without the ministry's consent; relinquishing a license without the ministry's approval; forcing the driver to pay the company a daily fixed revenue; operating vehicles beyond their life span fixed by the ministry; and for removing fare meters. The law also imposes a fine of SR500 for not operating the meter and SR700 for drivers who smoke inside the vehicle. There is also a fine of SR500 for operating a car without insurance, and SR1,000 for appointing a non-Saudi as a manager and failing to appoint a Saudi manager to oversee the business. – SG
