As the complaints against taxi drivers increased during the pandemic period, the civilian police inspected them. Police officers took taxis like tourists and toured Istanbul for inspection. In practice, the teams also encountered those who asked for high prices without opening a taximeter, and those who made excuses by saying “change time”. Handan Toperi, who said that he wanted to go to a nearby address in a foreign language with his suitcase in his hand, was asked for a fee of 40 TL without opening a taximeter. Tourist guides stated that they warned tourists to open a taximeter.
“OUR TEAMS CONDUCTED INSPECTION AS TOURIST”
Stating that they came to the field as civilians upon the intense complaints, Engin Ulusoy, Head of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Police Department, said, “As the IMM Police Department, we formed civil police teams. Our police teams, which we have formed, stop the taxis and offer short distances with their luggage in their hands, in the view of tourists who speak English, German and Arabic, both in the appearance of a spouse and a tourist. If they do not accept this, we take administrative action against them. 392 liras as a fine. However, there is a greater sanction. The permits of commercial taxis are suspended for 10 days. They cannot work. Drivers’ permits are suspended. They are also unable to drive taxi “he said.
“WE INSPECTED 577 TAXI DRIVERS”
Stating that the inspections will continue uninterruptedly, Ulusoy said, “577 inspections have been made in the inspections we have done so far. We inspected 577 taxi driver tradesmen in a civil way. We applied the procedures we said to 24 of them. Not only that they did not take the short distance, but that they did not open the taximeter and that they came with such an offer or wanted to defraud them from a long distance. These also cause different penalties and sanctions. These inspections will continue without interruption. “At the moment, we are continuing the inspections in touristic squares such as Sultanahmet, Eminönü, Karaköy, Taksim and airports”.
“WE HAVE BEEN TAXI DRIVERS WHO REQUESTED 40 TL FOR AN AMOUNT OF 15 TL”
Handan Toperi, who took a taxi like a tourist, told the staff of the IMM Police Department. Toperi said, “As a tourist, I have been at many points with my suitcase in hand. When we stopped the taxi drivers, they offered a short distance. I spoke first in German and then translated it into half Turkish and as soon as they realized I was a tourist, they did not open the taximeter. They came with a direct fee. So I asked the reason for this. I told him that he had to open the taximeter. They said it was not necessary, it was already this price. We had taxi drivers who wanted 40 TL for a place worth 15 TL. Then I introduced myself and told him to pull the vehicle over and hand over his papers. There was a little bit of fear, a bit of panic and a lot of surprise in the taxi. They came with excuses such as ‘I was going to the customer anyway, I just asked if I was on my way, I’ll take it’ ”.
GUIDES HAVE TO WARN THE TOURISTS
12-year tourist guide Kenan Tezol said that tourists complain about this situation a lot. Tezol said, “Sometimes when we need a taxi while taking tourists around, if I am at the head of the group, they cannot take us. Because I exist. If the tourist is the only one, they immediately welcome. Then, if I do not tell the customer the price before, the taxi drivers take it with a slightly higher price. I have to warn my tourists, “he said.
30-year tourist guide Atilla Şirvanlı stated that he warned tourists to open taximeters for taxi drivers and said, “We sometimes get complaints from tourists. We tell you to go with a taximeter. We definitely warn tourists to use a taximeter. Once there was a young family. They had children with them and it was raining. I took a taxi like a tourist. When I realized later that I was Turkish, I wish you could see the shape of his face. He was very angry, ”he said.
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