CAB drivers will face fines up to 2,000 yuan (US$305) for ride rejections, ripping off passengers or driving without licenses, according to a draft regulation released by the Standing Committee of Shenzhen Municipal People’s Congress on its official website.

In a serious case, their businesses can be revoked. The cabs refer to the traditional cabs and app-based hailing cabs.

Drivers should choose appropriate routes to the destinations and charge the fees accordingly. They are not allowed to make detours without appropriate reasons, reject rides, drop off passengers on the way or pick up other passengers without consent of in-car passengers. Otherwise they will be fined between 1,000 and 2,000 yuan. In a serious infraction, or if the driver has been punished five times in a year, the driver will be disqualified from the profession.

App-based car hailing service operators should work out a reasonable charging scheme and tighten the registrations of both drivers and vehicles.

The operator will be fined 5,000 to 10,000 yuan if the driver and the car in service are different from the data in their registration system. App-based taxi drivers are not allowed to engage in the business of traditional cabs and hand over their cars to others to engage in cab services. Otherwise they will be fined 1,000 to 3,000 yuan. The operator will be fined 10,000 to 30,000 yuan.

Individuals who have forged or modified business licenses to engage in cab service will be fined 10,000 yuan to 30,000 yuan. The operators will be fined 30,000 yuan to 100,000 yuan.

The draft also calls for a credit rating system based on the remarks of passengers, safety records and driver’s points. The result will be announced to the public regularly and included into the city’s social credit system.

(Han Ximin)