Xàbia Local Police seize four vehicles being used as illegal taxis
There is a maximum penalty of 4,000 euros per vehicle for operating an unlicensed taxi service.
In the first two weeks of July, local police officers in Xàbia have uncovered an illegal taxi service during routine checks on drivers in the municipality. Four drivers aged between 30 and 60 have been reported for operating a “pirate taxi” service without a license in private vehicles, the penalty for which can be as much as 4,000 euros.
Officers discovered the illegal service during a routine traffic stop, confirming that the drivers of four vehicles were transporting passengers to leisure establishments in the town at times of high demand when officially licensed taxis were busy.
They have been reported to the Ministry of Infrastructure, Territory and Environment on the charge of providing a transport service in a passenger vehicle despite the fact that neither the drivers nor the vehicles were authorized for that purpose.
The councillor responsible for Public Safety and Transportation, Juan Ortolá, expressed his support of the municipality’s professional taxi service and stressed that all irregularities that are detected will be reported accordingly.
“Pirate taxis” are private vehicles without the necessary authorization to transport passengers by road. They do not have unlimited liability insurance coverage, which licensed taxis are required to provide, and lack official rates, instead establishing arbitrary prices through an agreement between the customer and the driver. This practice represents unfair competition for the sector that operates within the law.
