On 1st of July 2017, a revolutionary industry that has been operating ambiguously in Singapore is officially recognized.
Lets welcome the Official Private-Hire Industry that is changing the way people travel in Singapore.
5 Important Changes to Private-Hire Industry w.e.f 1 July 2017
Private Hire Car Decals
All Private-Hire vehicles (Z10/Z11) are required to have a private-hire tamper proof decal on their vehicle to provide transport service to riders.
It is an offence under the Road Traffic Act for failing to display a valid decal. Any tampering, including obscuring, covering, altering and defacement is also considered an offence under the Road Traffic Act.
First Time offenders may be fined up to $1000, or a jail term not exceeding 3 months, or both
Repeat offenders may be fined up to $2000, or a jail term not exceeding 6 months, or both.
Offenders may face have their PDVL revoked
Private Hire Car Drivers’ Vocational Licence (PDVL)
Private hire car drivers must possess a valid PDVL to provide chauffeured services.
Private hire car drivers who have applied for the PDVL by Friday, 30 June 2017, will have up to 30 Jun 2018 to attend the PDVL course and obtain the PDVL.
Application on or after Saturday, 1 July 2017 will not be able to provide chauffeured services until they have obtained the PDVL.
Why your application for PDVL is rejected by LTA
LTA runs a background check for any offence committed in the past to access the application for PDVL. Offence of a serious nature such as rape, murder or kidnapping are barred permanently .
Offence of a lesser serious nature like housebreaking and cheating are barred for a few years from the date of conviction, after which consideration will be whether offenders have reformed and not gone back to their criminal activities.
Offence which do not pose any danger to the physical safety of the public do not attract any debarment.
Child-seat rule
We cannot help to emphasis the Child-seat rule that many Private-Hire drivers are still not aware of / choose not to follow.
Under the road traffic act, any child below the height of 1.35m needs to be in a booster seat for safety reasons as a normal seat belt would not be effective to secure the child.
Drivers will be penalised and fined. Many drivers who chose to ignore the law have been caught and punished.
The next time your rider comes with a child below 1.35m, ask them to book Uber Car Seat or GrabFamily.
Pick-up at taxi-stands
Private-Hire Drivers are NOT ALLOWED to pick-up or drop off riders at Taxi Stands.
Who say one !
The Godfather of the road, LTA
Why
Because it is called a Taxi-Stand and not a private-hire stand.
Dont care la, I pick-up and drop off rider everyday also no problem
There is an active sabotage movement in Singapore now. Taxi company is encouraging their drivers to sabo private-hire who pick-up at taxi-stands
Approval To Drive
All Drivers who are cleared to drive for now are required to carry the Approval To Drive (ATD) letter from LTA with them until they received their PDVL.
Drivers may be asked to show the letter to the authorities during any road blocks or when stopped.
Drivers who provide chauffeured services without a PDVL or ATD may be liable to a fine not exceeding $500 or imprisonment not exceeding 3 months, or both.
Vocational Licence Points System for Private Hire Car
Many people are not aware that there is a Vocational Licence Points System (VLPS) for Private Hire Cars that will be implemented soon.
The VLPS adopts a similar demerit points system to that of the Taxi Driver Vocational Licence Points System.
There are demerit points and fines for different types of offences. We pick out from the list some of the common offence and their punishments
- 3 demerit points – $100 Fine
Taking up or setting down passenger at unauthorised place
Verbally insulting, intimidating or harassing a passenger in a non-sexual manner - 5 demerit points – $200 fine
Retaining possession of passenger property left behind for more than 24 hours but less than 7 days
Verbally insulting, intimidating or harassing a passenger in a sexual manner - 6 demerit points – $300 fine
Refusing, without reasonable excuse, to hire out taxi or to convey passenger - 12 demerit points – $500 fine
Soliciting for passengers
Overcharging (by less than $20) - 21 Demerit points – $500 fine – Vocational Licence will be revoked
Driving while vocational licence is suspended
Permitting any other person to use, or have in that other person’s possession his vocational licence - 21 Demerit points – Vocational Licence will be revoked – Court Action
Permitting taxi to be driven by driver whose taxi vocational licence is under suspension or by unlicensed driver
