Ride-and-dash incidents have been a particular malediction for cabbies of late. A total of 240 cases of taxi fare evasion was reported in 2015, said to be a 90 percent escalation from the previous year, and a three-fold increase from 2013, according to Public Transport Council (PTC) Chief Executive Alvin Chia.
As such, the PTC announced the implementation of higher fines come May 9 for passengers who don't pay their fares, with the first offence already hitting wrongdoers with a $200 penalty. It'll be twice that amount — $400 — for the second offence, and that's not including the restitution payment of the unpaid fare.
Currently, taxi fare cheats are fined $100 and $200 for those same offences.
Once three or more offences are committed, they'll face prosecution in court, said the council.