No private cars should be used as taxis – Traffic Chief warns

Traffic Chief Superintendent Dion Moore is calling on citizens, for their own safety, to be cognisant of private cars operating as taxis. During an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), Moore said the Guyana Police Force Traffic Department has thus far charged 369 persons who used their cars for a purpose other than they are licensed for.

Moore explained that many times when someone calls for a taxi, it is only upon

arrival of the car that they realise that they are being picked up by a private car.

“As long as you, the member of the public, request a taxi and you recognise that it is a private car, you should refuse from entering that car, because you are not covered by the insurance, and it is a breach,” the Traffic Chief stated.

Asked if there is anything that can be done to prohibit taxi services from using private cars, the traffic chief responded in the negative. He said the GPF cannot stop taxi services from having private cars work for them, but he pointed out that operators will be charged once they are caught breaking the law.

“We cannot have owners of taxi services to only have private cars registered, they can have private cars, but the use of those cars is what contributes to the offence… you cannot be licensed to operate private and want to carry passengers in your private car; it is an offence, and once we recognise that is what you are using it for, then we will charge you, once you are caught,” Moore explained.

The Traffic Chief reiterated his call on owners of private cars not to use their vehicles for a purpose other than that for which the vehicles were licensed. He also asks that members of the public desist from utilising such cars, as their safety could be at serious risk.