City Police reaches out to taxis
The Windhoek City Police wants to have a close partnership with taxi drivers to ensure effective regulation of public transport in the city.
Chief of City Police Abraham Kanime told about 150 taxi drivers at its headquarters this past weekend that for the past years, the City had made decisions on public transport signs and taxi ranks without consulting taxi drivers.
“You are equally important as you keep mobility in the city, therefore we need to form a close relationship rather than seeing each other as opponents,” said Kanime.
He emphasised that instead of blaming each other as taxi drivers and police officers in terms of issuing tickets at wrong junctions where drivers feel there is need of a taxi rank, this should rather be solved amicably.
He, however, called on taxi drivers to voluntarily obey the law, as it does not belong to police officers.
Kanime said complaints were received from the public of some police officers who treat drivers the way they want and those that speak on the phone and park at road junctions. “No one is above the law, should it be a police officer or not,” said Kanime.
He indicated that currently there are about 53 000 warrants of arrest tickets of which 15 000 are for taxi drivers who make up only 2 to 3% of the total number of vehicles in the city.
Kanime disclosed that there are regulations being amended to enable a conducive and smooth environment for both taxi drivers and other road users, hence the need for drivers' input.
Currently there are about 12 841 registered taxis in Windhoek of which 1 055 are de-registered.
NAMPA
Chief of City Police Abraham Kanime told about 150 taxi drivers at its headquarters this past weekend that for the past years, the City had made decisions on public transport signs and taxi ranks without consulting taxi drivers.
“You are equally important as you keep mobility in the city, therefore we need to form a close relationship rather than seeing each other as opponents,” said Kanime.
He emphasised that instead of blaming each other as taxi drivers and police officers in terms of issuing tickets at wrong junctions where drivers feel there is need of a taxi rank, this should rather be solved amicably.
He, however, called on taxi drivers to voluntarily obey the law, as it does not belong to police officers.
Kanime said complaints were received from the public of some police officers who treat drivers the way they want and those that speak on the phone and park at road junctions. “No one is above the law, should it be a police officer or not,” said Kanime.
He indicated that currently there are about 53 000 warrants of arrest tickets of which 15 000 are for taxi drivers who make up only 2 to 3% of the total number of vehicles in the city.
Kanime disclosed that there are regulations being amended to enable a conducive and smooth environment for both taxi drivers and other road users, hence the need for drivers' input.
Currently there are about 12 841 registered taxis in Windhoek of which 1 055 are de-registered.
NAMPA
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