In a recent stop-over raid on taxis in the capital Dili, the Traffic Police Unit of the National Police of Timor-Leste PNTL, seized 64 taxis.
“Some [drivers] didn’t have a drivers licence, some didn’t have car registration documents. So were using private vehicles as taxi’s carrying passengers, which is illegal. Some taxis had tinted windows and some taxi drivers were not using a uniform.
Some taxis did not have a visible taxi lamp and were not identifiable or branded as a taxi,” said the Commander of Traffic Police Unit, Antoni L. C. Soares, from his office.
According to the Chief Inspector Soares the taxis were seized also because they some drivers charge inflated fares which break the laws of the country.
He added penalties will be applied to drivers who did not use a uniform and fines were given to unmarked taxis. Those without proper documentation were required to pay an administrative fee and those caught driving without a driver’s license were remanded in prison up to 72 hours.
“Some driver have come back to get their taxis back but some are will going through an administrative process,” said the Commander.
Chief Inspector Soares added his unit will continue holding regular stopover raids to ensure car and motorbike driver don’t break the traffic and road laws.
Meanwhile Member of Parliament (MP) Arão Noe said this is a good initiative by the PNTL.
“They are implementing the laws of the country that apply to all citizens. Everyone has to obey the laws put in place,” said MP Noe in NP.
A student from the National University, Universidade Nacional Timor-Lorosa’e (UNTL), Vasco Ximenes said laws are needed to help regulate society and police intervention needed at time as long as it is positive.
