City transport officials have begun implementing strict penalties for service providers who fail to comply with new regulations. Drivers who stop service before 10:00pm, deviate from designated routes, or cut off their routes will be fined 5,000 Br. An additional 5,000 Br fine applies for charging passengers above the approved tariff set by the city administration. The Addis Abeba Transport Bureau has confirmed the regulations are in effect. Taxi drivers in the city have raised concerns, particularly over the extended operating hours and lack of fare adjustments for night services. They argue that low passenger flow from the city's outskirts at night, rising operational costs, and safety risks require a tariff revision to maintain operation viability. Drivers also claim police officers extort them and criticise the city’s penalty point system, which enforces strict penalties for violations, including accidents. Authorities deny the allegations and attribute some fare inflation to collusion between drivers and enforcement officers. City officials claim the rules are part of broader efforts to organise public transport and commercial activities and are intended to improve access to essential services. The new laws also require commercial establishments to match operating hours with public transport schedules. The officials hope that enforcing the rules will enhance consumer access to transport and retail services.
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