The Consell de Ibiza‘s Department of Tranport will use infiltrators to detect and report taxi drivers who offer transport services without authorization, the island govern has explained in a statement.
“The fight against illegal taxis is the priority of this season, as there has been a decline in delocalized VTC vehicles and VTC operate with authorization to work throughout the Balearic Islands. To combat unfair competition more effectively we have opted for new ways of action and using infiltrators is one of them. As always, the collaboration of the PolicÃa Local and State Security forces is essential to reduce this problem and show offenders that impunity is over,” said the Minister of Transport, Javier Torres.
Illegal taxis using Whatsapp
He also explained that these infiltrators are also in the groups of different mobile messaging applications where these types of illegal taxi services are usually offered. In this way, Torres said, the detection of offenders is “more agile”.
The pilot test of this method was carried out in November 2021 in collaboration with the PolicÃa Local of Sant Josep, reports the Consell. A person infiltrated by the insular institution hired a service with an illegal cab driver to take him from Sant Josep to the airport. When he got into the vehicle, the driver told him that it was not necessary to use the mask, although it is still mandatory in public transport.
The price of the trip was 30 euros and the driver asked him for payment before arriving at the destination. A control by the PolicÃa Local of Sant Josep forced the pirate cab driver to stop. At that moment, the agents found that he did not have a valid ITV, that the passenger was not wearing a seat belt and, when addressing him, he informed them that he had paid in advance for the service, which alerted the agents that they were dealing with an unlicensed driver.
The illegal driver was charged with 6,001 euros and the car was seized. At that point, the accused contacted the alleged client by WhatsApp to blame him for his “little collaboration” and remind him that he had warned him that in case they were stopped by the police, he had to say that he was a friend who was taking him to the airport for free.
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