Police have announced that, starting from now (Jun 1), taxi drivers who do not have a proper taxi-driving permit will face up to one month in jail or a fine of up to B1,000. According to the Land Transport Department, out of 101,000 registered taxis in the country, 77,000 are operated by companies and 24,000 are private. National Police spokesperson Police Major General Piya Utayo said that the companies could also be subject to fines of up to B2,000, if they allow drivers without proper permits to drive their cars. This crackdown comes in the wake of crimes committed by unlicensed taxi drivers that police could not track down. As to whether this will have any effect on your driver’s manners or the likelihood of him driving you to the suburbs, we’re not holding our breath.