To prevent passengers from being scammed at Riga International Airport by dishonest taxi service providers demanding unfairly high taxi fares for rides, it is planned to establish a ceiling for taxi rides from the airport or other internationally important transport infrastructure, as well as introduce an advance payment option.
As reported by Saeima’s press-service, Economic, Agricultural, Environmental and Regional Policy Committee decided to submit amendments to the Law on Carriage by Road to the Saeima for the final reading.
It is planned that the pre-purchase option will be available both online and at the airport. In order to operate in the airport’s special zone, a taxi will need to offer clients the option to pay with a previously purchases “voucher”. The maximum tariff will apply to all taxis providing services from the airport. The tariff ceiling, as well as zones and maximum additional fares for rides will be determined by the Cabinet of Ministers.
Taxi service providers that operate using a mobile app are already able to list the fare the moment clients sign up for a service, Saeima deputies said.
Information about licence cards, their issuance or relocation will be published by the planning region or municipal administration in the e-services section of Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD).
If a carrier fails to secure a vehicle with a licence in more than three months, their licence will be annulled.
Previously, the committee’s chairperson Skaidrīte Ābrama said the taxi service in Latvia is very fractured and not sufficiently controlled. This is why there are frequent reports of dishonest businesses and low tax payment discipline.
Deputies stressed the important of control to ensure order and quality of taxi services within the airport’s territory.
Answering questions from Saeima deputies, the Ministry of Transport said the amendments in question provide the airport with more opportunities to control taxis in its territory on a daily basis. The amendments also provide that municipal services will strengthen cooperation to ensure control.
Changes provide restrictions on the use of vehicles banned by the State Revenue Service (VID). Additionally, every year VID will provide information to the CSDD about information on the number of persons employed in the companies of licensed passenger carriers in the previous year.
It is planned that from the 1st of January, 2027, cars registered for the first time not later than the 1st of January, 2009, i.e. not older than 18 years, will be allowed to be used for taxi transportation.
The amendments also provide for the introduction of a new methodology for calculating the maximum amount of carbon dioxide emissions for cars registered for the first time after the 31st of December, 2020. It stipulates that the amount of emissions for a vehicle with a capacity of up to seven seats does not exceed 180 grams, but with a capacity of more than seven seats – 240 grams per kilometre. This is intended to encourage the use of more environmentally friendly vehicles.
The Ministry of Transport has until April 2025 to a report on the effectiveness of the single tariff and “voucher”, as well as the system for the control of taxi service quality improvement at the airport, said Ābrama.
The committee also proposed looking into just how justified the different requirements are for passenger transportation services using light-weight vehicles. The ministry was also asked to assess the option to introduce a single licencing system for the taxi service and develop proposals to reduce grey economy.
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