The Transport Department today reminded the taxi trade that the Taxi-Driver-Offence Points (TDOP) Ordinance will come into operation on September 22.

The TDOP system covers 11 taxi driver-related offences that affect taxi service quality and carry higher penalties under the existing legislation, including overcharging, wilfully refusing or neglecting to accept a hire and driving to a destination other than by the most direct practicable route.

The 11 offences are categorised into three layers based on their seriousness and assigned with 10, five and three points respectively. If a person is convicted of, or becomes liable to, a fixed penalty for a related offence, a respective number of points will be incurred.

For any taxi driver who accumulates points incurred to a specified level within any two-year period, a respective action or penalty will be triggered.

Specifically, an Advice of Taxi-Driver-Offence Points will be served by the Commissioner for Transport to any person incurring eight to 14 points. A Notice of Obligatory Attendance of Taxi Service Improvement Course (TSIC) will also be served to any person incurring 10 points or more, requiring that person to attend and complete the (TSIC) at his/her own cost within a specified period of time.

Failure to comply with such requirement without reasonable excuse is an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $5,000 and imprisonment for one month.

All taxi drivers who incur points, including those who have not been served with a Notice of Obligatory Attendance, can attend a TSIC, and three points will be deducted from the total number of points previously incurred by that person after completing a TSIC and passing its examination.

Any person incurring 15 points or more is liable to be disqualified from driving a taxi. The disqualification period will be three months for the first disqualification and six months for each subsequent disqualification.

Noting that the quality of taxi services is an issue of concern, the department said the TDOP system aims to strengthen the deterrent effect against malpractices by taxi drivers and enhance the service quality and overall image of the trade.

Following the passage of the TDOP bill by the Legislative Council on December 22 of last year, the department pointed out that it has briefed the taxi trade on the details and requirements of the TDOP system and the ordinance through regular taxi trade conferences and letters.