Sixteen taxi companies and drivers were fined a total of 11.7 million lei as a result of inspections carried out by employees of the State Tax Service during October 17-25. Of this sum, 10 million lei has been already paid, IPN reports.

According to the State Tax Service, during the inspections performed in concert with the National Patrolling Inspectorate and the National Auto Transport Agency with the aim of fighting illegal passenger transportation among taxi firms, it was established that some of the cab drivers illegally provided passenger transportation services.

The inspectors identified 15 cases of collection of fares without using the taximeter, four cases of collection of money in cash in the absence of a taximeter and 13 cases of illegal entrepreneurial activity without registering the business with the State Registration Chamber.

Within similar inspections carried out this year, there were compiled 464 contravention reports and imposed fines totaling 721,000 lei. A number of 96 inspections were carried out at business entities that provide taxi services. As a result, there were imposed fiscal fines of 437,000 lei and contravention penalties of 176,000 lei.

Under the Contravention Code, the illegal practicing of entrepreneurial activities is punished with a fine of 1,000 to 3,000 lei. In the case of business entities, the transportation of passengers without issuing tickets is punished with a fine of 3,000 lei.