Police chief warns motorcycle taxi operators

KIGALI - The Commissioner General of Police, Emmanuel Gasana, has called for strict measures in dealing with motorcycle taxi operators for their continued breaking of laws. Gasana made the call on Monday while meeting with heads of motorcycle taxi associations and cooperative societies from different parts of the country, held the police headquarters in Kacyiru. “There is need for stronger measures in combating such issues of misbehaved motorcycle riders and fighting corruption in the country,” Gasana noted, reminding them of the consequences and the gravity of penalties for whoever is caught in such acts. The meeting also attended by officials from Rwanda Utility Regulatory Agency (RURA), Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) and Kigali City Council (KCC), was called to address the issue of unruly motorcycle taxi riders, especially in Kigali City. Not abiding by traffic rules, ridding without driving licences, parking in prohibited places and working with criminals such as drug dealers, are among the crimes said to be committed by the riders. According to statistics released by the police in September for the year’s first nine months, close to 70 percent of accidents registered in the country were caused by motorcycles as a result of reckless ridding and breaking traffic rules. It was, however, agreed in the meeting, that there be a fresh registration of tax-motor operators and identify their parking yards in every Sector in the country, the motorists to done their uniforms when on duty and each association to register its motorcycles and the members. The Police, in conjunction with heads of motorcycle associations, will also be mounting operations to apprehend all those violating the laws, and that any member of these associations who violets these rules governing them, will be suspended indefinitely and not to be allowed to join any other group. It was also agreed that passengers first check if those transporting them have all the required documents. Currently, there are over 8,000 motorcycles in the country, with 3,000 operating in Kigali City, but it is said that there are some operators who are not registered because they lack required documents such as driving licenses. Ends

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Police chief warns motorcycle taxi operators