We’ve heard of unscrupulous cabbies taking detours to fleece their passengers, but this is a whole ‘nother kettle of fish. A taxi driver was arrested this morning after he apparently tried to convince two “passengers” that they had somehow ended up on another island after their long and arduous trip from Lan Kwai Fong to Sheung-bloody-Wan.
At around midnight, two undercover police officers posing as Mandarin-speaking tourists hailed a cab on Wellington Street, near D’Aguilar Street, as part of a sting operation to bust overcharging drivers. When giving their address, the covert coppers showed their driver a card from a hotel on Jervois Street in Sheung Wan.
Ming Pao reports that the meter only read HKD22 when the cab arrived at the hotel, but the driver allegedly pressed a few buttons to double the fare, claiming that he was owed a “cross-harbour tunnel fee”. Pretending to believe him, the police officers gave HKD100 to the cabbie, who reportedly pocketed HKD44 for his “troubles”.
The officers then revealed their identity and arrested the cabbie on suspicion of overcharging. He was detained for investigation and his taxi was towed after police found that its left tail light was damaged and the front bumper was loose.
By law, a taxi driver who overcharges, rejects or touts passengers is liable to a maximum penalty of six months’ imprisonment and a HKD10,000 fine.
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