A meeting against Federal law On taxi passed off in Novocherkassk

An action of protest against Federal law On taxi passed off in Novocherkassk, Rostov region. Taxi drivers and personnel of automobile companies took part in it.

The Federal law On taxi was adopted by State Duma on April, 11, sanctioned by Council of the Federation on April, 13, and came into effect on May, 6, 2011.

The participants of the action in Troitskaya square on November, 29, expressed their discontent with the statutory provisions enacting a prohibition on the use of cars held on lease as taxis. The necessity of registration as sole proprietor or juridical person was also a point of objections.

Novocherkassk drivers consider it unlawful that to get a license on driving a taxi one must have a driving experience of no less than five years and reequip one’s car in accordance with the demands of the legal act, a special-purpose media Zakontaxi.ru reports.

The meeting was organized by Rostov regional branch of “Fair Russia” party. According to the organizers, about 200 people took part in the meeting, i.e. just as many as were applied for. However, eyewitnesses state that the actual number of participants was at least one hundred people more than applied, “Rostov News Agency” reports.

“The law obviously lobbies for the interests of big haulers. A sole driver is in fact forbidden using his wife’ car by proxy”, "161.ru" quotes Andrey Karabedov, Leader of Novocherkassk branch of “Fair Russia”.

There are about 1000 taxis in Novocherkassk but only 65 of them have licenses as of today. Many of the drivers who spoke at the meeting said they intended to go slow in getting licenses and go underground instead.

There are no comments from Mayor’s office of Novocherkassk or the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation concerning the action and demands of its participants as of today.