Taxi drivers in Den Bosch respond relieved now that the municipality has introduced stricter rules for drivers without a Bossche taxi permit. During carnival, drivers from other cities or black taxis often pop up in Oeteldonk, who try to pick up. Now illegal drivers can get a fine of 700 euros per ride. “I hope it scares them,” says taxi driver Ismail Dayioglu.
According to Bossche Taxi drivers, it has been a problem for years: black taxis or legal drivers from other parts of the country that run during carnival in Oeteldonk without the correct municipal permit. While Bossche drivers themselves invest heavily in their papers and permits, illegal drivers can pick up customers without consequences.
“As Bossche Taxi drivers, we all have to wait at four designated taxi stands in the city, sometimes twenty minutes or more. Even during carnival. In the meantime, illegal drivers can pick up partygoers anywhere. And people often step into the first taxi they see ”, Says Ismail Dayioglu (49), who has been a taxi driver in Den Bosch for more than 20 years. Colleagues. If we address illegal drivers, we often have to deal with aggression. “
Read also
The Bossche taxi industry has therefore been insisting on enforcement for years. But the police and the judiciary have not been able to do anything against illegal taxi rides in recent years, because offering it was not punishable according to the municipal regulation. The Den Bosch city council has now unanimously decided on Tuesday evening to adjust the rules, so that the police can act immediately. Illegal drivers can get a fine of 700 euros during carnival. “We are of course happy with it, but the municipality should have done that years earlier,” says Ismail.
“There are also drivers who light up carnival lovers.”
An important difference with the old situation is that a driver without a permit can now get a fine several times per event. Previously it often remained with a single warning, so many drivers took the risk. The municipality hopes that the new rules will scare them. “I think we will get busier. If I know as a driver in advance that I am not allowed to drive here and I can get one or more fines, I will not come here, ”says Ismail.
“It would be nice if we could drive more journeys through the new rules, because the week before carnival and the following week are extra quiet. We desperately need the money that we earn extra during the five days of carnival to finally bridge the lesser weeks. ”
But the drivers in Den Bosch are not just about the money. “There are also illegal drivers who light up carnival lovers. They come here purely to earn a lot of money. Sometimes they ask two or three times as much for a ride as we do,” explains the Bossche taxi driver. “As a result, we, as legal drivers in Den Bosch, get a bad name, because customers often do not know who is driving with the right permit and who is not. I hope that now improves that.” With carnival in front of the door, it must quickly become apparent whether the stricter approach has a real effect.
