DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST TAXI DRIVERS

Maj Fong Sip Chee asked the Minister for Communications and Information, Second Minister for Defence and Second Minister for National Development (1) the number of complaints the Registry of Vehicles has received from tourists against Singapore's taxi drivers for the years 1981 to 1984; (2) how many of these resulted in disciplinary actions taken against the allegedly defaulting taxi drivers and the nature and severity of the penalties meted out; and (3) what is the name of the disciplinary body and who are its members.

Dr Yeo Ning Hong: The ROV does not have a complete breakdown of complaints and disciplinary actions taken against errant taxi drivers resulting from tourist complaints as all complaints are treated in the same way. The breakdown of the action taken are as follows: Voca-tional Counselled Licence (Impl-No. of Suspended Voca- emented Public Compo- (From 2 tional since Complaints Written sition Court weeks to Licence Feb 83 Year Received Warning Fine Action 3 months) Revoked only) 1981 1,240 406 69 23 346 2 - 1982 1,357 619 46 22 398 18 - 1983 1,223 444 179 14 133 15 672 1984 1,349 335 98 5 123 11 801

The Registrar of Vehicles is empowered to take these disciplinary actions against taxi drivers under the Road Traffic Act. Thorough investigations are carried out by ROV officers under the supervision of the Senior Assistant Registrar of Vehicles. There is also provision for appeals against the action to be made to the Minister.