Airport taxi clampdown

In a move with implications for airports worldwide, new rules for taxis at Paris CDG have been brought in after an unlicensed driver charged a Thai couple €247 for a trip to the city centre. The legal flat-rate fare is €55. The driver was later jailed for eight months for fraud and extortion.

Under the new rules, licensed cabs will be identified with a Taxis Officiel Aéroport sign. Drivers will wear numbered blue vests and use signposted and easy to locate special taxi ranks.

As at other airports, including New York JFK and LaGuardia, passengers will be encouraged to head to the official taxi ranks and not be persuaded to get into a car by drivers waiting at arrivals.

The issue came to light after the Thai visitors took a video of their taxi journey, including the driver holding up a mobile phone with the unauthorised fare of €247 showing on the screen and threatening them to pay. The couple then released the video on social media.

Paris police chief Michel Delpuech said the problem of illegal taxis at CDG had increased recently, with 918 drivers stopped by police in 2018 compared to 243 in 2016. "The hunt for these people is a public safety priority," he added.

https://www.parisaeroport.fr/en

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