The Taxi-Driver-Offence Points (TDOP) Ordinance is set to go into effect on September 22. Serious offenders will face a three-month disqualification, while a six-month ban will be implemented for each subsequent disqualification.
The TDOP system covers 11 taxi-driver-related offenses, including overcharging fares, taking detours, and refusing rides, etc.
The offenses are categorized into three layers based on their seriousness and assigned with 10, five, and three penalty points respectively.
Once a cabby is convicted of, or becomes liable to, a fixed penalty for a related offense, a respective number of points will be incurred.
Under the system, those incurring eight to 14 points within two years will be served with an Advice of TDOP by the Commissioner for Transport.
Those who have been fined 10 points will get a Notice of Obligatory Attendance of Taxi Service Improvement Course, requiring them to complete the course at their own expense within a specified period.
Unreasonable failure to comply with such requirements is an offense. Once convicted, one may face a fine of HK$5,000 and imprisonment for one month.
Those incurring 15 points or more can be disqualified from driving a taxi. The period will be three months for the first disqualification and six months for each subsequent disqualification.
The Transport Department spokesman stated that taxi service quality has faced increasing scrutiny, and the government introduced the TDOP system to deter improper behavior among taxi drivers.
