Public taxis bearing private number plates are considered a violation of the Traffic Law

The Public Transport Authority (PTA) revealed that it has monitored public taxis with the new identity, bearing ‘private’ number plates, warning that this is considered a violation of the Traffic Law. The authority stressed that it is forbidden to operate a taxicab with a canceled operating card. It underlined the need to amend the type of its registration in accordance with the Traffic Executive Regulations, which stipulate that the cancellation of the operating card takes place at the request of the licensee after paying the fines and the financial fee.

The PTA confirmed that the operating card issued for the car will be deemed canceled under the following circumstances: The death of the licensee; a request from the licensee; canceling the approval issued by the competent authority in the airport management, and amendment in the type of car registration.

The license shall be considered canceled if a period of 180 days lapsed after the expiry of the license without its renewal; and if the company is liquidated, whether by agreement of the partners or the expiry of its term or a court ruling or the death of the owner of the sole proprietorship.

In such a scenario, the heirs of the owner of the sole proprietorship can request correcting the status of the establishment to continue practicing the activity, within 90 days from the date of death. The legal representative of the heirs has to undertake compliance with the provisions of the regulations during the correction period. In all cases, it is not permissible to operate the car with a canceled card.

The executive regulations governing the rental activity identified several violations and penalties. These include SR5000 fine for practicing the activity without obtaining a license or with a canceled license. The same fine will be slapped in the event of the violation of practicing the activity with an expired license, or not providing a center to practice the activity in the city under the jurisdiction of the license, or not canceling the commercial registration for the activity after canceling the license.