Q5. If a passenger requests to stop at a restricted area, should the taxi driver comply with the request? If the taxi driver refuses, will he be charged?
If a passenger requests to stop at a restricted area, should the taxi driver comply with the request?
No, the taxi driver should not comply with the request.
No taxi driver shall pick up or set down a passenger in a restricted zone or a prohibited zone designated by the Commissioner for Transport, unless a restricted/prohibited zone permit was issued to that taxi according to the Road Traffic (Registration and Licensing of Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374E): see Regulation 14(6) and Regulation 14(8)(b) of Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations (Cap. 374G).
Any person who without reasonable excuse contravenes any of the provisions of, or any requirement under Regulation 14(6) commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $2,000: see Regulation 61(2) of Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations (Cap. 374G).
If the taxi driver refuses, will he be charged?
No. Although under Regulation 37(b) of Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations (Cap. 374G), the driver of a taxi shall not without reasonable excuse refuse or neglect to drive the taxi to any place indicated by a hirer, that obligation is subject to the qualification of “without reasonable excuse”. The compliance with Regulation 14(6) of the Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations (Cap. 374G) would certainly be a reasonable excuse. Thus, it is very likely that the taxi driver would not be charged for such refusal is for the purpose of compliance with the law and the passenger’s request is illegal.