To safeguard passenger safety and interests, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is stepping up enforcement checks on bus drivers who tout their services at various locations around Singapore. More frequent checks are being conducted at high traffic areas, potential hotspots, as well as areas where a high volume of public feedback has been received.

2.  Under rule 22A of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Vocational Licences and Conduct of Drivers, Conductors, Trishaw Riders and Passengers) Rules, bus drivers are not allowed to solicit passengers at public places. Bus drivers who are caught doing so will be imposed with a composition sum of S$500, and repeat offenders will be prosecuted in court.

3.  As part of its enforcement operations, between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2016, LTA has charged two drivers, imposed composition sums on 14 drivers and issued warnings to 12 drivers touting their services.

Conviction of a Recalcitrant Driver

4.  While touting cases have decreased from 19 in 2015 to 11 in 2016, LTA observed that a small number of errant bus drivers continue to solicit passengers at various hotspots. One such recalcitrant bus tout was Cheng Nam Wee. Cheng was caught soliciting passengers at the taxi stands of East Coast Seafood Centre and the Sentosa Beach Station on 5 October and 10 December 2016, respectively, during LTA’s enforcement checks. He approached potential passengers, in particular, tourists who may not be familiar with the taxi fare structure and quoted flat fares of up to S$50 for his transport service, a pricier option than taking regular taxis.

5.  Despite being warned and having paid composition sums for illegal solicitation in the past, Cheng continued to do so. Upon conclusion of the investigations, Cheng was convicted in Court on 11 July 2017, and was fined S$800 for the two occasions when he illegally solicited passengers at public places. His vocational licence was also revoked by LTA on 29 August 2017.

6.  LTA’s Group Director of Public Transport, Mr Yeo Teck Guan said, “The Authority takes such errant behaviour seriously, so as to protect commuters’ interests and the integrity of our transport system. We will continue to carry out regular enforcement checks to deter errant bus operators, and will not hesitate to take stiff action. We will also continue to work with stakeholders, such as property owners and managers, to address this issue.”