Following mounting complaints from Quezon City residents, tricycle drivers and operators who charge more than the official fare rate may face six months imprisonment or a fine of P5,000.
The stern warning came from the Tricycle Regulation Division of the Quezon City Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS) as many commuters have been filing complaints at the city hall for several weeks now.
“They [tricycle drivers and operators] were also sternly warned not to allow minors and unlicensed drivers to operate tricycle units, and reminded them to strictly follow traffic rules and regulations to avoid accidents, loss of lives and damage to properties,” Elmo DG San Diego, head of DPOS, said in his memo to the Quezon City Public Affairs and Information Services Office (Paiso).
The city’s information office had relayed complaints from commuters that tricycle drivers overcharge passengers at Veterans Village in Barangay Pasong Tamo.
Last week the Tricycle Regulation Division under the DPOS invited the officers of the Luzon (Avenue) Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association for a dialogue and explicitly informed them that overcharging of tricycle fare is a violation of Ordinance 2466-2016, which imposes the tricycle fare rate in Quezon City. It has a penalty/fine of P5,000 or imprisonment of six months or both at the discretion of the court, according to San Diego.
“We also advised them to call for a general assembly of members to disseminate the need to enforce the official rate, which is P8 for the first kilometer plus P1 for every kilometer in excess for regular trips, and for special trips a fare of P16 for the first km plus P1 for every km thereafter,” he further explained.
Tricycle drivers and operators were also reminded that they are bound to extend 20-percent discount to senior citizens, persons with disabilities and students. The fare regulation applies to all passenger tricycles in Quezon City.