This web page is intended to explain in general terms the objectives, operations and effect on taxi drivers of the Taxi-Driver-Offence Points ("TDOP") system. The illustrations below are for reference only. Details related to the TDOP system should be based on the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374) and its subsidiary legislations, TDOP Ordinance (Cap. 647), and the disqualification order promulgated by the Courts.

Remarks: Throughout this web page, the "male" pronoun is used to cover references to both the male and female. No gender preference is intended.
Q1: When is the effective date of the Taxi-Driver-Offence Points System?
   
A1: The effective date of the Taxi-Driver-Offence Points System is 22 September 2024.
Q2: What are the objectives of the Taxi-Driver-Offence Points System?
   
A2:
 The TDOP system aims to strengthen the deterrent effect against malpractices of taxi drivers for enhancing service quality and overall image of the trade.
Q3: What is the Taxi-Driver-Offence Points System?
   
A3:
 The TDOP system covers 11 taxi-driver-related offences that affect taxi service quality and carry higher penalties under the existing legislation, including overcharging, wilfully refusing or neglecting to accept a hire and driving to a destination other than by the most direct practicable route. These 11 offences are categorised into three layers based on their seriousness and assigned with 10, 5 and 3 points respectively.
Q4: When will the Taxi-Driver-Offence points be incurred?
   
A4:
 When a taxi driver is convicted of, or becomes liable to, a fixed penalty for a related offence, a respective number of points will be incurred.
Q5: How would the Commissioner for Transport determine whether actions have to be taken under the TDOP system?
   
A5:
 In counting the two-year period for determining whether actions have to be taken under the TDOP system (e.g. whether the Commissioner for Transport has to apply to a magistrate to trigger the disqualification proceedings), the relevant reference date is the date of the commission of the relevant scheduled offence, instead of the date of incurrence of points. For instance, if a taxi driver commits a Scheduled Offence on 22 September 2024 and is convicted of such offence on 22 December 2024, the relevant reference date on which the relevant two-year period starts to count would be 22 September 2024. Also, under the TDOP system, the two-year period is counted on a rolling basis. Hence, if a taxi driver has accumulated points to a specified level during the period from 22 September 2024 to 21 September 2026, a respective action or penalty will be triggered. For details, please refer to the "Example of the calculation of Taxi-Driver-Offence points" below.
Q6: What are the consequences of incurring Taxi-Driver-Offence points?
   
A6:
 Under the TDOP system, if a taxi driver has accumulated points incurred to a specified level within any two-year period, a respective action or penalty will be triggered. Specifically, an Advice of Taxi-Driver-Offence Points will be served to a taxi driver incurring 8 to 14 points; a taxi driver incurring 10 points or more is required to attend and complete a Taxi Service Improvement Course at his own cost within a specified period of time; a taxi driver incurring 15 points or more is liable to be disqualified from driving a taxi.
   
  Incurrence of 8 points or more, but less than 15 points
  If a taxi driver incurs 8 points or more, but less than 15 points within the 2-year period, the Commissioner for Transport will issue an Advice of Taxi-Driver-Offence Points to him pursuant to the law. This Advice sets out his record of points incurred in respect of the scheduled offences committed within the 2-year period, inform him of the consequences of incurring more points and remind him to enhance the taxi service.
   
  Incurrence of 10 points or more
  If a taxi driver incurs 10 or more points in respect of the scheduled offences committed within the 2-year period, the Commissioner for Transport will issue a "Notice of Obligatory Attendance of Taxi Service Improvement Course" to the taxi driver to inform him of the obligatory attendance and completion of a Taxi Service Improvement Course at his own cost within a specified period. A taxi driver who, without reasonable excuse, fails to attend and complete the Taxi Service Improvement Course within the specified period, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $5,000 and imprisonment for one month. More details can be found on the webpage about Mandatory Taxi Service Improvement Course.

Please note that a taxi driver is required to attend and complete a Taxi Service Improvement Course at his own cost once for every 10 or more points incurred within the 2-year period. In other words, a taxi driver is required to attend and complete the Taxi Service Improvement Course at his own cost twice for incurring 10 or more points twice within the 2-year period, and so on. If a person has attended and completed a Taxi Service Improvement Course as required by "Notice of Obligatory Attendance of Taxi Service Improvement Course", all points specified in the Notice will not be counted again for the purpose of another obligatory attendance of Taxi Service Improvement Course.
   
 

Will points be deducted upon completion of a Taxi Service Improvement Course at a taxi driver's own cost?
   
  If a taxi driver (i) incurs relevant points in the register of Taxi-Driver-Offence Points and (ii) is issued with a taxi course completion certificate, the Commissioner for Transport will deduct from the total number of relevant points incurred by him-
 
(a) 3 points if the number before deduction is larger than 3; or
(b) all the points if the number before deduction is not larger than 3.

  However, no points may be deducted under the following three circumstances:
On the completion day of the course -
(a) no relevant points incurred by him (i.e. 0 points); or
(b) the total number of relevant points incurred by him is 15 or more than 15; or
(c)

 the Commissioner for Transport has for the reason of him completing the course deducted points from the total number of relevant points incurred by him within the 2-year period.
More details can be found on the web page about Taxi Service Improvement Course.
Incurrence of 15 points or more
If a taxi driver incurs 15 or more points within the 2-year period, he is liable to be disqualified from driving a taxi pursuant to the law (hereinafter referred to as "disqualification"). The disqualification period will be three months for the first disqualification and six months for each subsequent disqualification, subject to the Courts' order.

Please note that a taxi driver is liable to disqualification once for every 15 or more points incurred within the 2-year period. In other words, a taxi driver is liable to disqualification twice for incurring 15 or more points within the 2-year period twice, and so on. If a taxi driver is liable to disqualification for multiple times, subject to the Courts' decision, the disqualification will be carried out consecutively (i.e. the subsequent disqualification will only begin when the previous one ends).

How will a summons be served if a taxi driver is liable to disqualification due to the incurrence of 15 or more points?
 
When a taxi driver incurs 15 or more points in respect of the scheduled offences committed within the 2-year period, a summons will be served by ordinary post by the Courts at his address registered in the Transport Department. If that taxi driver fails to appear at the hearing at the scheduled date and time specified in the summons, the summons will be served again on him by registered post.

A summons is deemed to have been served if it is served on a taxi driver by registered post at his address registered in the Transport Department, even if it is returned through the post undelivered to him.
 

What will happen if a taxi driver fails to appear at the hearing?
 
If a summons is served or deemed to have been served on a taxi driver and he does not appear at the time and place specified in the summons, the Courts may issue an arrest warrant against him. Moreover, the Commissioner for Transport shall refuse to issue, re-issue or renew the driving licence to drive a taxi for him pursuant to the law.

Example of the calculation of Taxi-Driver-Offence points
The following scheduled offences are committed by a taxi driver within the period from 1 October 2024 to 1 November 2026.

Please note that the following example is for reference only. The provisions of the incurrence of taxi-driver-offence points and disqualification should be based on Cap. 647 or the Courts' order.

Offence Date Points Incurred^ Points Deducted Points Accumulated Remarks
1 October 2024 (Offence 1) +5 N/A 5 N/A
1 December 2024 (Offence 2) +3 N/A 8 The Commissioner for Transport shall serve an Advice of Taxi-Driver-Offence Points.
1 March 2025 (Offence 3) +5 N/A 13 The Commissioner for Transport shall serve a Notice of Obligatory Attendance of Taxi Service Improvement Course. The taxi driver shall attend and complete a Taxi Service Improvement Course at his own cost within the specified period.
1 May 2025 (Completion of taxi service improvement course at his own cost) N/A -3 10 The taxi driver attended and completed the Taxi Service Improvement Course at his own cost. He also met the criteria of 3-point deduction.
15 October 2026 (Offence 4) +5 N/A 10 The interval between the offence dates of Offence 1 (1 October 2024) and Offence 4 (15 October 2026) has exceeded the 2-year period. Therefore, as at 15 October 2026, the 5 points incurred from Offence 1 would not be taken into account. The Commissioner for Transport shall calculate the taxi driver's points within a 2-year period starting from the offence date of Offence 2 (1 December 2024).
1 November 2026 (Offence 5) +5 N/A 15 With reference to the offence date of Offence 2 (1 December 2024), the taxi driver, despite given 3-point deduction, has incurred 15 points within the 2-year period from 1 December 2024 to 1 November 2026. He shall receive a summons from the Courts and be liable to disqualification#.

^ Section 7 of Cap.647 provides that where a person is convicted of a scheduled offence or becomes liable to a fixed penalty for a scheduled offence, he incurs taxi-driver-offence points for the offence on the day on which he is so convicted or becomes so liable.

# The disqualification order made by the Courts shall prevail.

Further Enquiries


Your record of the Taxi-Driver-Offence Points can be obtained from the Hong Kong Police Traffic Conviction Records Office. More details can be found on their website: https://www.police.gov.hk/ppp_en/05_traffic_matters/tcr.html

To give commendation to a taxi driver or complain on taxi service, please note down the driver's name, the taxi driver identity plate number, the registration number of the taxi as well as the date, time and place of the incident. Commendations and complaints may be made to :

1) Taxi Service Commendation Scheme (website: www.ctsq.org.hk)
2) Transport Complaints Unit (hotline: 2889 9999/ website: https://www.tcu.gov.hk/ email address: info@tcu.gov.hk)
3) Hong Kong Police Force (hotline: 2527 7177 or seek help from any police officers or police stations)
4) 1823 (hotline: 1823/ website: https://www.1823.gov.hk)

 

Scheduled Offences under the Taxi-Driver-Offence Points System


Please refer to the Schedule of the TDOP Ordinance (Cap. 647).