Another 10 motorists caught for illegal ride-hailing services amid enforcement blitz

A week after 22 people were caught for offering illegal ride-hailing services, another 10 motorists have been nabbed for falling afoul of the law, as the Land Transport Authority (LTA) steps up enforcement against those who offer point-to-point transport services without a valid licence.

The sting was conducted on July 18 at Changi Airport, where the 10 illegal chauffeurs all had their foreign-registered vehicles impounded.

As with the 22 caught offering illegal ride-hailing services at Changi Airport and Gardens by the Bay on July 11, some of the drivers were providing rides across the border with Malaysia without the necessary permits.

The operations are ongoing. In June, eight drivers were caught giving illegal rides to Gardens by the Bay and the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum, in what was the first ever joint operation between LTA and the Singapore Tourism Board.

LTA said in a Facebook post on July 19 that it had acted on a tip-off from the National Private Hire Vehicles Association, which gave similar leads to the authorities for previous enforcement operations.

LTA said the 10 motorists nabbed on July 18 were caught for providing illegal ride-hailing services within Singapore, as well as to and from Malaysia.

"Such illegal services not only pose risks, as they may lack proper insurance, but they also undermine the livelihoods of licensed drivers," it added in a video on its social media pages.

LTA warned that the escalation of its enforcement activities against illegal point-to-point services could be disruptive to passengers.

But it said it remained committed to protecting their interests as well as those of drivers.

To offer taxi or private-hire car services here, a Public Service Vehicle Licence (PSVL) is required. This also applies to drivers of foreign-registered vehicles offering cross-border services between Singapore and Malaysia.

Only Singapore- and Malaysia-registered taxis approved by LTA and Malaysia's Land Public Transport Agency are authorised to provide cross-border rides today. Besides the PSVL, Malaysia-registered taxis must also have an Asean Public Service Vehicle Permit.

Since 2022, 104 drivers have been caught providing illegal cross-border passenger transport services using foreign-registered vehicles.

LTA said the penalties for those who have been charged and convicted so far include fines of up to $2,600 and vehicle forfeiture.

The maximum penalty for those who provide illegal point-to-point transport services in Singapore is a fine of up to $3,000, up to six months in jail, or both.

Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling said on July 12 that the authorities will not hesitate to press for heavier fines against illegal private-hire car service providers.