Govt crackdown looming on unauthorised rentals of cabs

Panaji: The directorate of transport on Friday issued a public notice warning against unauthorised private vehicle operations as rent-a-cab services in Goa.
Offenders will face fines starting at Rs 10,000, with repeat violators subject to heavier penalties.
“Using a private vehicle for commercial purposes amounts to an offence under Section 192 (of the Motor Vehicles Act), which can lead to fines and the impoundment of the vehicle,” said the notice which was issued by the director of transport, Pravimal Abhishek.
The warning stressed that operating a transport vehicle without a valid permit is an offence under the Motor Vehicles Act. First-time offenders will also have to face the suspension of the vehicle registration or permit in addition to the Rs 10,000 fine.

Repeat offenders will be fined as well as face the cancellation of the vehicle registration or permit.
“Authorities are empowered under Section 207 of the Act to impound vehicles that are being illegally used for commercial transport,” the notice read.
The directorate of transport will therefore also seize vehicles used for illegal commercial transport.
“The public is strongly advised not to hire unauthorised rent-a-cab services as these vehicles do not comply with legal regulations and may compromise passenger safety,” the notice read.
Only rental cabs possessing valid permits and black high-security registration plates are authorised to operate in the state.
“Enforcement agencies have been directed to conduct regular checks and take immediate action against violators,” the notice said. “Citizens are encouraged to report illegal rent-a-cab operations to their nearest regional transport office or traffic police station.”
The directorate of transport has stopped issuing fresh licences to new rent-a-cab applicants in the state, owing to which only the existing vehicles under the rent-a-cab scheme are currently operational.
The volume of non-registered and unauthorised rental cabs operating in Goa is not known.
Govt will consider issuing new rent-a-cab licences based on the demand from the public or tourists, transport minister Mauvin Godinho said in the legislative assembly on Feb 7, in response to a question from the leader of the opposition, Yuri Alemao.