Beijing will crack down on private cars this year using taxi-booking software to take passengers, local authorities announced Wednesday.
Private cars operating as taxis by using these apps is considered illegal. It has seriously affected taxi operations in Beijing, according to a press release of the Beijing Transport Law Enforcement Corps.
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"We will focus on inspecting illegal taxis using software such as Didi Zhuanche and Yidao Yongche, and stiff penalties will be imposed on those found guilty," it read.
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An illegal driver had been reportedly fined 20,000 CNY (3,221 USD) and had his car confiscated when he was caught using such software to take passengers at the Beijing Capital International Airport on Tuesday.
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In 2014, several taxi-booking software and car rental companies launched a new service allowing passengers to choose other types of cars rather than taxis only.
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Other cities like Shanghai have also come down on private cars using the taxi-booking applications.
Software companies that violate the rules could be fined up to 100,000 CNY.
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Local transport authorities in Chongqing also pledged to crack down on illegal taxis taking advantage of taxi-booking software in December 2014, after they received information on a group of private car owners being taught how to use the taxi app of US car-hiring firm Uber for their illegal taxi business. Â