Ex-offenders Applying for Taxi Vocational Licence

Ms Lee Li Lian asked the Minister for Transport whether ex-offenders qualify to apply for the taxi vocational licence and, if not, what are the reasons.

Mr Lui Tuck Yew: LTA takes into account offences that may affect an individual’s suitability to be a taxi driver. Ex-offenders who have committed extremely serious offences, such as rape, are debarred from obtaining a Taxi Driver’s Vocational Licence (TDVL) for life. Those who have committed less serious offences, such as housebreaking, are debarred for three to five years, after which they can apply. Other offences, such as being a member of an unlawful assembly, do not result in debarment. This calibrated approach is needed to maintain public confidence in the safety of our taxi services, especially as it is common for taxi passengers to travel alone and sometimes late in the night. At the same time, it provides ex-offenders with a second chance.