100 no voy taxi drivers get hefty fines
“Change” has finally reached Panama’s yellow hornet taxis and the notorious “no voy” (not going there) is under attack.
On Tuesday (March 16) 100 taxi drivers were slapped with $75 fines for refusing to provide the requested service, in defiance of the rules.
Marcos Mora, of the transport authority ATTT, Mora whjo reported the fines said that repeat-offenders could face losing their operating license.
Mora also handed out the number of a snitch line 502-0591 and recommended that passengers who get the “no voy” take down the taxi plate number and file a complaint with the transit authority. Based on the number of no vpys in a normal day, the line is likely to be constantly busy.
But the key to the success of the program will be maintaining the slap down. It took years, and constant postponement of target dates, to get taxis toconform to the all yellow rule.
The ATTT is also using undercover agents teo catch taxi drivers who break traffic laws.
Rafael Reyes, representative of the national union of taxi drivers, said the union has stepped up its training in an effort to improve service, adding that a campaign will be launched shortly to help create awareness among taxi drivers to give better treatment to users.