Lanzarote Cracks Down on Illegal Taxis as Two Drivers Face €8,002 in Fines
Lanzarote is stepping up the fight against unlicensed passenger transport after two drivers were reported for allegedly operating without the necessary authorisation in Arrecife.
The latest action took place in the early hours of 6 August, around the La Marina shopping and leisure area in Arrecife, where National Police officers were monitoring activity during a particularly busy night.
According to the information provided by the Cabildo of Lanzarote and La Graciosa, officers noticed two vehicles repeatedly returning to the area to collect passengers before taking them to different destinations around the island capital.
The subsequent information was passed on for the relevant enforcement procedures, with the Cabildo’s Transport and Mobility department opening two sanctioning cases.
€4,001 proposed penalty for each driver
The two cases could result in €4,001 in fines per vehicle, giving a combined proposed penalty of €8,002.
The alleged offences are classified as very serious under Canary Islands transport legislation, because the vehicles were allegedly being used to provide public passenger transport without the required concession, authorisation or licence.
It is worth stressing that these figures are proposed sanctions connected with the proceedings, rather than confirmation that the fines have already become final.
Mobile phones and an electronic payment terminal found
During the interventions, officers also found three mobile phones and an electronic payment terminal.
One of the phones contained a messaging group called “Uber”. The evidence from the devices was considered alongside what officers had observed and statements from passengers concerning how the journeys had been arranged.
The case highlights a changing problem for authorities in Lanzarote.
Illegal passenger transport is no longer necessarily about someone standing outside a busy nightlife area offering people a lift. Increasingly, journeys can be arranged beforehand using mobile phones, WhatsApp, social media and messaging groups.
A growing concern for Lanzarote’s taxi sector
The latest cases come amid wider concerns about so-called “pirate taxis” or “ghost taxis” in Lanzarote.
Just days before these latest proceedings were announced, representatives of the island’s taxi sector warned about a significant number of vehicles allegedly providing passenger transport without the appropriate licences. One industry representative estimated that around 200 vehicles could be involved, although that figure is an estimate rather than an official count of confirmed illegal operators.
The issue is particularly relevant during busy periods when demand for transport increases, including the summer season, nightlife events and major local celebrations.
For legitimate Lanzarote taxi drivers, the issue is also about competition. Licensed operators have to comply with regulations and requirements governing the provision of passenger transport, while an unlicensed operator may not be subject to the same controls.
What should tourists look out for?
For visitors to Lanzarote, the latest cases are a useful reminder to think carefully about who is providing your transport.
If you arrange a private transfer or taxi through a phone number, Facebook page, Instagram account, WhatsApp group or messaging service, make sure you know who the operator is and whether they are legally authorised to provide the service.
A cheap or convenient ride may seem attractive, particularly late at night, but the Cabildo is reminding both tourists and residents in Lanzarote that using properly authorised transport provides important safeguards.
That is especially relevant for visitors travelling to and from Arrecife, Lanzarote Airport, Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca, Costa Teguise and other popular tourist destinations.
More enforcement expected
The Cabildo says cooperation between transport inspectors and police forces is important in tackling this type of activity because illegal services can be difficult to detect when passengers arrange journeys privately through digital channels.
The latest cases suggest that Lanzarote’s crackdown on illegal taxis and unauthorised passenger transport is continuing, with enforcement increasingly focused not only on vehicles picking people up on the street but also on services being organised online and through messaging applications.
For anyone living in or visiting Lanzarote, the message from the authorities is straightforward: check that your taxi or passenger transport provider is properly authorised before getting in.
