The China Post
Date: January 18, 2017
By: Sun Hsin Hsuan

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Uber Taiwan and its drivers in Taipei alone have been fined more than NT$331 million in the eight days since an amendment to the Highway Act came into effect, the Taipei City Vehicle Monitor Office said Tuesday.

The office issued more than 130 fines, a cumulative total of approximately NT$331 million since Jan. 6, officials announced.

The figure is four times the total amount the riding-sharing giant had been handed in the past four years for violating local laws.

The Legislature passed an amendment to the Highway Act in December last year, raising the maximum fine on any firm or individual who illegally runs a transportation service to NT$25 million.

The move was widely seen an official “declaration of war” against the ride-hailing company Uber Taiwan, who had not only maintained operations, but pitched more offers to passengers, and organized events and campaigns to promote the business. The government had ordered the firm to end operations 2015.   [FULL  STORY]