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Over 400 cab drivers in Shanghai have been arrested and had their license nullified this year because of various offenses, according to Chinese officials.
One particular driver overcharged an American traveler by three times the proper fee, and is just one of the hundreds of cab drivers suspended for such and other offense.
Besides overcharging, other offenses that merited a check from the authorities were misdemeanor, including taking longer routes for more fare; lending of own taxi cab to fellow cab drivers; and exchanging credit-less transportation cards, reported the Shanghai Traffic Law Enforcement Team.
Because of serious offenses against regulations, 93 cab drivers' licenses were revoked for at least five years, said the traffic enforcement officials.
Zhu, a driver who overcharged an American in April, was one of the 93 cab drivers suspended. The driver accommodated the American from the Pudong International Airport to the Hongqiao Railway Station, but the driver overcharged the fare.
Many cab drivers share the same cab, but Zhu's counterpart driver was still driving their taxi. Zhu wanted to earn more and continue working, so he just borrowed another taxi from a cab driver friend who was occupied doing decorations for his home.
The borrowed taxi was the one Zhu used to drive the American to his destination. Zhu used a device that he attached to the taxi meter to make it run faster than usual. Zhu charged the American 590 yuan ($96), but the rate would have cost only about 200 yuan. The American withdrew additional money from the ATM just to pay for the overcharged fee, and then he was given a fraudulent receipt. Feeling doubtful, he took note of Zhu's car plate and asked his Chinese friend for help with filing a formal complaint.
Zhu was suspended for five years, while the owner of the borrowed taxi named Zhang was suspended for just 15 days. All apprehended drivers are obligated to take traffic-law courses during their suspension.
