Illegal taxis: a slight itch-turned-hives The number of illegal taxis operating in the South of the country has increased and the topic is generating uneasiness among the official taxi operators. ASAE ever done supervisory action Added by ncouto on 9/4/2014. Saved under ALGARVE, reportage, latest Tags: ALGARVE, asae, illegal, taxis . . When they started appearing, theres three or four years, they were a slight itching. But as they began to proliferate, suddenly became a real hives for the taxi drivers, who no longer know what to do. Say Paulo Abrantes. Owner of a high-end vehicle, one of the 80 tourism taxis operating in the Algarve, is tired of being literally in the shadow of the banana tree, while dozens of minibus transfer flock to resorts and hotels for servicing that were previously provided by taxis. The law is clear, but there is no supervision, protests. Paulo left a job in banking to invest in an activity that I thought more dynamic and more profitable. And so it was, for a while. But since three years ago, began the surprising increase of seven trucks and nine seats all over the Algarve, identified as airport transfers. From there, it was all downhill. These vehicles, designed to transfer passengers to and from the hotels, are protected by law since the service providing is included in a vacation package. The law inhibits however travel agents or events of Act as taxis, i.e. to perform only a shuttle service. Taxis – tourist or not – are obliged to permanent availability, regardless of hours, something that obviously do not need transfers to ensure. On the other hand, are still required to have means of collecting rigorous allegedly as taximeters (or, in the case of tables of tourism), while the transfers are limited to the payment against invoice directly to the travel agency and the driver. The reality is different: the minivans prices under taxis-a taxi €36 snake between Vale do Lobo and the airport, while the vans can charge are charged at £ 15 – and many charge directly the services. Moreover, as most of the passengers are not nationals and do not require proof, pass beside the issuance of invoice, omitting this recipe. According to Paulo Abrantes, the tourist taxi cooperative Algarve T, often are the rececionistas of hotels that facilitate this type of transport, by contacting directly the carriers. Directions of hotels close their eyes because they pay low wages and this is a form of the rececionistas walk more satisfied, advances the cabbie. Contacted by the express, one of the rececionistas – who requested anonymity – denied the practice and said that the transfers are contacted because taxis are not often available immediately. Something that Paul acknowledges, especially in the summer season. We, at the co-op, are 59 taxis. But if I want to get another permit, give me because they say that there is no economic activity justifies it, so we are apparently few. Certain is that were standing, while the shuttles are transporting people illegally and nobody does anything. To the President of the Association of Hotels and Resorts in the Algarve, Elidérico Viegas, the verify-if situations like that are the exception and not the rule. For the hotels is more a service that lends itself, they take advantage. The hotels are not policemen, he says. And concludes: obviously, if the hotels are aware that the receções hire services which are not legalised, theres no doubt in my mind that basement end it. Desiderius Silva, President of the Algarve Tourism (ERTA), also admits that there may be a problem, but ensures that its none of your concern. We need to combat the lack of security, the illegality and the escape to the IRS for the Algarve economy grow. But the DISCUSSION has difficulty in interfering in areas that are not within its competence , defends. According to data from the national register of tourism, the number of travel agencies not to increase, counter-cyclically with the crisis. Registered in January 1303, at national level. And in August, were already 1449. In the Algarve, jumped from 210 to 262, an increase of 25% which contrasts with the number of taxis, which tends to decrease. The Food and economic Safety Authority (ASAE) warrants to be careful and have reinforced the available resources, in particular in the Algarve during the summer period. In July this year, undertook a surveillance operation in the Algarve region, with a view to the detection of irregular situations. On the road, dozens of vehicles were monitored and transfer passengers questioned on how they had hired the service, with the help of translators. Contacted by the express, one of the interpreters confirmed that the majority had requested a taxi in front of the hotel and they would pay cash to the driver, something punishable by Decree-Law No. 251/98 with fines amounting to € 15,000. This action, only one in ten of the vans was legal, i.e. with the customer voucher, ensures the cabbie of Algarve t. the voucher has to be email and have to walk along with the invoice, issued in advance, says Paulo Abrantes, sporting a legal opinion of the ANTRAL, the industry association. But contacted by Expresso, the ASAE only confirmed four infractions for lack of licensing of activity: in any of these actions was detected any irregularity concerning the provision of passenger transportation services that provide taxi service, being registered as companies in travel agencies or events. The taxi drivers, required to have a licence and specific training in the case of tourist taxis, not conform to see the notes the passing of hand outside the State. And say that they are wasting away with unfair competition. Despite the action of ASAE, transfers succeed to dozens in the Algarve, in small services such as transportation to the beach or restaurants, responding to calls from tourists. Two Irishmen, in Vale do Lobo, confirm the Expressed that called directly the van that transported them, little caring whether or not a taxi. Is a transport and use every year when we saw here, count. Pay in cash. Meanwhile, the authorities are still more focused on traffic violations than in matters of activity exercise, because part of the powers were the ASAE on this issue now for the Office of mobility and transport, which in turn delegates the inspection on road authorities PSP and GNR. Paulo, taxi driver seven years ago, I dont see a happy ending to her story. And I even admits himself, opening a travel agency and embrace, with indignation and grudgingly, the black economy.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 16:35:11 +0000
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