Taoyuan City Gov't to Fine Taxi Drivers for Using Lunar New Year Rates in May Following Complaints

A netizen reported being charged a starting fare based on Lunar New Year rates by a taxi driver in Taoyuan City, which was only corrected after questioning. The passenger suspects the driver is a repeat offender based on the vehicle's interior. The Taoyuan City Department of Transportation stated today that if a report is received and the claim is verified, fines will be issued in accordance with the law. A ballet dancer posted online on the 16th about her first performance in Taoyuan. On the 15th, her taxi ride started at NT$90, but on the 16th, a taxi from the queue at Taoyuan Railway Station started directly at NT$140. After she inquired, the driver said, 'I accidentally pressed the Lunar New Year button.' This prompted the woman to post, 'So Lunar New Year is a skill, not a holiday, and it's automatically triggered when seeing an outsider.' She also noted that the receipt, as other netizens pointed out, used a different license plate number and name. Based on photos, some netizens recognized the car's interior and posted another news story about a taxi driver secretly using Lunar New Year rates and refusing to issue receipts, suspecting the driver is a repeat offender. This led many other netizens to share their own experiences with the same driver or other unpleasant taxi encounters. The Taoyuan City Government's Department of Transportation responded that the case of a taxi driver charging Lunar New Year rates involves a failure to adhere to regulated fares. If a public complaint is received and verified, a fine of NT$9,000 will be imposed under the Highway Act. For repeat offenders, the fine will be increased by NT$9,000 for each offense.