There have been mixed responses from taxi operators to Tuesday’s announcement by the Transport Authority about officials authorised to seize motor vehicles. 

The authority says effective immediately, vehicle seizures will be authorised by an area supervisor.

The supervisor will make a determination on seizure, based on the evidence of offence, as presented by the authority’s inspector or constable, who has the power, under law, to seize a vehicle.   

The guideline is similar to one issued recently by the Police High Command, that a senior ranking inspector should authorise the seizure of a vehicle.   

Some operators welcomed the announcement while others expressed concern that taxi drivers, especially those who operate hackney carriages, will be targeted and their cars seized, arbitrarily.

Speaking during last evening’s virtual meeting of the Transport Operators Development Sustainable Services, TODSS President Egeton Newman applauded the decision, but also raised concern about the seizure of an operator’s tool of trade.

He called for a review of the overall vehicle seizure system. 

The operators want the Transport Authority to provide clarity on the new directives.