Social media has been abuzz with claims that taxi drivers at Almaty airport are being fined for dropping off passengers. The city's police department has commented on these allegations, reports infohub.kz.
The message about mass fines appeared on the Telegram channel Kris_p_almaty. It claimed that taxi drivers are refusing orders to the airport, fearing fines of 21,000 tenge for improper parking when dropping off passengers at the entrance. According to drivers, hundreds of them have already received such penalties and do not want to risk more.
A NUR.KZ correspondent sought comment from the press service of the Almaty Police Department. There, it was stated that the information does not correspond to reality and distorts the actual situation. At the airport, road signs 3.28 "No Parking" are installed in certain areas, but special zones for passenger drop-off are provided and marked with appropriate signs. According to traffic rules, stopping for boarding or alighting passengers is allowed even where parking is prohibited, provided that traffic regulations and time limits are observed.
The department emphasized that the mere act of a brief stop to let out a passenger is not grounds for administrative liability. However, if a driver violates road sign requirements or other traffic rules, they may be held accountable in accordance with the law. If a driver disagrees with a decision, they have the right to appeal it as per legislation, the press service concluded.