The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is intensifying its efforts against the illegal operation of motor vehicles as public service vehicles (PSVs) by implementing immediate seizure of offending vehicles. Acting CEO Irimaia Rokosawa announced in a circular dated June 27 that LTA has been inundated with complaints from stakeholders and government agencies regarding the rising incidence of private vehicles being used illegally as PSVs across various regions.
“This memo serves to express the management’s disappointment in the current laxity of our enforcement teams in addressing this critical issue,” stated Rokosawa in the circular. “The role of the LTA is to ensure that all transport operations within the country comply with the law, thereby ensuring the safety and reliability of our transport system. It is imperative that we uphold this responsibility with utmost diligence.”
Rokosawa emphasized that any private vehicle caught providing PSV services should be issued a traffic infringement notice (TIN) and a warning. Violating vehicles will be seized for investigation, with the severity of the penalties increasing for repeat offences. For a first offence, the vehicle will be seized for no less than two days. A second offence will result in a seizure of no less than four days. For a third offence, the vehicle will be seized, a TIN issued, and a warning notice given. The vehicle will remain seized pending a show-cause hearing and further decision by the CEO.
During show-cause hearings, vehicle owners will need to justify why their vehicle registration should not be de-registered or suspended. “The management expects compliance with these directives and a marked improvement in the enforcement of transport regulations,” Rokosawa added.