Turkish authorities move against taxi drivers over long list of customer complaints

ANKARA

Turkey’s Interior Ministry instructed governors on Oct. 12 to take legal action against taxi drivers whose wrongful practices have triggered an avalanche of customer complaints.

The general instruction for 81 governors across Turkey, signed by Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu, orders local authorities to use all legal means to prevent taxi drivers from victimizing customers. 

Recent citizen complaints against taxi drivers cited by the instruction formed a long list, which includes rejecting customers arbitrarily, overcharging them, as well as smoking, playing games and listening to loud music during the trip.

Turkish police had recently increased presence and inspections in Istanbul’s main tourist areas to monitor overcharging taxis.

Amid increasing complaints about legally-licensed taxis, Turkey also continues to rein in on ride-sharing application Uber.

After a series of violent attacks by taxi drivers on Uber drivers, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan intervened on June 1, heralding an end to Uber in Turkey.

“That business is now over. There is no such thing anymore,” he said.

Since then, the number of Uber cars in Turkey have significantly decreased as authorities have begun to issue hefty fines to both drivers and passengers.