Q10. If passengers deliberately select and ride in the 2nd taxi at the taxi stand, would the driver of the 2nd taxi be charged?
Yes, the driver of the 2nd taxi will be charged if the 1st taxi ahead of the 2nd taxi has not yet accepted a hire or is in or near the 2nd taxi.
Under Regulation 36(3)(b) of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374D), if a person wishes to engage a taxi, the driver of a taxi other than the first taxi at the stand shall not accept the hire, unless the drivers of all taxis ahead of his taxi at the stand have either accepted a hire or are not in or near their taxis.
Thus, even if the passenger deliberately selected the second taxi in line, the driver of the second taxi may still be charged in contravention of Regulation 36(3)(b) of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374D) if the 1st taxi ahead of the 2nd taxi has not yet accepted a hire or is in or near the 2nd taxi.
Any person who without reasonable excuse contravenes Regulation 36 commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $3,000 and to imprisonment for 6 months: see Regulation 57(1) of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374D).