The Ministry of Public Works and Housing of the Junta de Andalucia has sanctioned 43 ‘pirate’ taxi operators in the first three months of this year for the unauthorised transport of passengers.
During 2o12, the Junta initiated disciplinary proceedings in 112 cases of intrusion into the taxi industry.
Fines range from €1,501 for a minor offence to €4,501 for repeat offenders or where the offence is considered ‘serious’ due to the amount of benefit obtained illegally through their actions.
Of the 161 cases handled since 2012, the maximum fine has been levied in 78 cases. The Junta also has the power to ‘seal’ the offending vehicle, although this requires lengthy administrative procedures and has to be carried out by the sub-delegation of the Central Government.
Málaga was top with 48 proceedings carried out, followed by Almeria and Cádiz with 34 each, Sevilla with 19, Huelva with 15, Jaén with 7 and Granada with 4. Córdoba did not register any proceedings for this type of offence.
Consumers taking advantage of so-called ‘pirate’ operators are unprotected when it comes to such things as injury as a result of accidents etc as they are unauthorised and do not have the regulatory insurance cover.