Abu Dhabi Police impounded 3,376 vehicles for unauthorized car lift services last year.
Authorities apprehended the motorists for picking up passengers and dropping them off to various areas in Abu Dhabi, particularly outskirts like the Musaffah Industrial area, Mohammed Bin Zayed City, and Baniyas, as per a report from the Abu Dhabi Police last Saturday.
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Authorities conducted 1,115 inspections in coordination with the Integrated Transport Center.
The Abu Dhabi Police furthers that most of the seized cars offering unauthorized cab services were owned by individuals not companies.
Some owners of unauthorized cab services hire unlicensed drivers, which charge around Dh10 per person and take in four passengers in one ride.
Officials asked the public not to patronize such services and to ride only on cabs with certified licence plates.
“Drivers operating the illegal taxis don’t have licences or permission to offer this service. In addition, some of the vehicles are not insured,” said Criminal Security Sector Director Brigadier-General Mohammed Suhail Al Rashdi.
The Department of Transportation earlier reminded the commuters about the dangers of illegal cabs as the drivers of these cars are unlicensed and may have entered the country through illegal channels.
Under the Federal Traffic Law, the penalty for illegally transporting passengers carries a fine of Dh3,000; 24 traffic points; and a 30-day car impoundment.
