Over 300 people detained, thousands of black bikes seized in Shenzhen police crackdown on illegal taxi services
A total of 322 people were detained and 3,406 motorbikes or electric bicycles were confiscated on Tuesday, the first day of the crackdown in Shenzhen
PUBLISHED : Wednesday, 23 March, 2016, 8:42pm
UPDATED : Wednesday, 23 March, 2016, 9:57pm
Catherine Wong
More than 300 motorcyclists and riders of electric bicycles were detained on suspicion of illegally carrying out taxi businesses without licences on the first day of a crackdown in one Chinese city, mainland media reports.
Shenzhen traffic police carried out the 48-hour campaign on Tuesday and Wednesday at 150 locations across the city, Shenzhen Economic Daily reported on Wednesday.
Riders of unlicensed motorcycle taxi services in the city have been blamed for crimes including robberies.
A total of 322 people were detained and 3,406 motorbikes or electric bicycles were confiscated on Tuesday, the first day of the crackdown in Shenzhen. Photos SCMP Pictures.
A total of 322 people were detained and 3,406 motorbikes or electric bicycles were confiscated on Tuesday, the first day of the crackdown, the report said.
The police targeted places, including subway station exits, bus stations, ports, and commercial areas, where people offering taxi services without commercial licences often look for customers.
The two-day operation marks the start of a series of crackdowns, which are planned to last until the end of April. Five further operations would be carried out in the city, the police said.
Five further crackdowns against unlicensed taxi services will be carried out in Shenzhen before the end of April. Photos: SCMP Pictures
The city police carried out a similar crackdown against unlicensed motorcycle taxi services in 2003.
Riders of motorbikes or electric bicycles that solicit customers without a commercial licence are called “black motorbikes” in China.
In the past the Chinese government has also carried crackdowns against these illegal drivers in other cities, but such efforts have failed to contain the increase.
