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SINGAPORE - Every day, at least seven people flee without paying for their cab ride, said The Straits Times (ST).
And there could be more as these are just the ones that have been reported by two bigger taxi companies here.
Last Tuesday, Tanya Azurre Lee, 29, pleaded guilty to two charges of fare evasion. She was fined $600 for each offence.
Lee managed to avoid paying for at least 34 cab rides before she was caught, according to ST.
This recent case has given cabbies some hope that fare dodgers can be tracked down and punished as most of them do not see the point of reporting them to the police when they do not have details of the passengers.
A 49-year-old cabby, Mr Ramli Suri, who has been in the trade for the last four years, said that it is a waste of time chasing the taxi fare cheat down, especially when the fare is just $6 or $7. "I'd rather just move along to the next passenger," he said.
Under the law, fare evasion carries a maximum fine of $2,000 or six months' jail for repeat offenders - per charge.
maryanns@sph.com.sg
 
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