SINGAPORE: Drivers caught providing hire-and-reward carpool services between Singapore and Johor without a valid public service vehicle licence (PSVL) could be jailed and fined, CNA reported today.
Quoting the republic’s Land Transport Authority (LTA), the news portal reported that the authority took a “serious view” towards foreign-registered vehicles illegally providing hire-and-reward services.
The LTA was responding to CNA queries about the imminent launch of Sameride – a mobile app that offers carpooling services between Johor and Singapore.
The report said that the LTA would take “strong enforcement action” against such illegal activities.
LTA reportedly said that foreign-registered vehicles are not allowed to provide cross-border passenger transport services for hire or reward in Singapore without a PSVL.
“Any person caught providing hire and reward services, including cross-border carpooling service without a valid PSVL, can be fined up to S$3,000 (RM9,150), imprisoned for up to six months, or both. The vehicle used may also be forfeited,“ an LTA spokesperson was quoted as saying.
According to the portal, the authority “strongly urges” people against engaging cross-border hire-and-reward services provided by drivers of unlicensed vehicles, as the vehicles might not be sufficiently insured against third party liabilities.
“Passengers who ride in such vehicles may not be entitled to insurance recourse if they are involved in a traffic accident while travelling in such vehicles,“ the spokesperson added.
According to the Sameride website, its app is expected to be fully operational for Johor-Singapore commuters starting Dec 30, 2019. It stated that over the last two weeks almost 300 Johor-Singapore commuters have pre-registered in the app.
Sameride estimates that app users who commute between Johor and Singapore will be able to reduce the cost of their commute by up to 50% compared to taxi services.
Sameride said the longer-term effect of the app operations on Johor-Singapore commute will be the reduction of traffic on causeways between Johor and Singapore.
The first commuter route was established by Sameride in 2016 in the Washington, DC Metro Area of the US, serving commuters between Woodbridge, VA and Tysons Corner, VA. - Bernama
