The transportation ministry has fined Uber and has begun imposing fines on drivers found to be working for the company. Uber entered the Taiwan market in 2014.
Between September 2014 and mid-February this year, the transportation ministry has fined Uber 268 times, fining the company a total of NT$36.5 million (US$1.1 million.) Uber drivers without taxi licenses were given citations 271 times during the same period, racking up a total of NT$11.75 million (US$353,000) in fines.
Last November, the Taipei High Administrative Court ruled that the transportation ministry couldn’t fine Uber. However, the outcome of another case in January has contradicted this ruling.
The transportation ministry says it will amend current laws and regulations to be stricter on Uber and drivers who take passengers in private cars. The ministry will be able to impose higher fines and even revoke serial violators’ driver licenses starting in March.