Honiara City Council to crackdown on taxis with private number plates

BY MORRIS NAFU

The Honiara City Council (HCC) has called for taxis operating with private licence number plates to stop, warning of a crackdown on the illegal practice.

More and more taxis in Honiara are using private licence number plates, a crafty method of avoiding the costly public transport licence fees – which are paid four times a year.

A vehicle’s private licence fee is paid once a year, and considered less costly.

Another reason behind this illegal practice is public transports are not allowed to tint their windows, while privately licensed ones can.

In a statement yesterday, HCC’s law enforcement division raised the concern calling the practice a breach of HCC Business Licence Ordinance “by running taxi businesses without proper registration and licensing”.

Director of law enforcement, Robert Madeo, labelled the practice as illegal and will not be tolerated.

He warned that any taxi owner or driver found violating the law will face legal action in court.

“Ignorance of the rules is not an excuse,” Mr Madeo said, stressing that the law will be enforced strictly to maintain order and fairness in the transport sector.

Madeo adds that the Law Enforcement Division will conduct a surprise operation to identify and crack down on illegal taxi services throughout Honiara.

He urged all taxi owners to ensure they are fully compliant with HCC regulations to avoid penalties or vehicle impoundment.

He also issued a stern warning to those who think personal connections will protect them from the law.

“Even if you are a relative or wantok, we will not help you if your driver or vehicle gets arrested by the HCC Law Enforcement team,” he said.

Private number plates are coloured in yellow, while the public vehicle’s number plates are coloured in white.

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