Lafitit: Unlicensed Smart Transport is Illegal, and Interfering Without Authority Exposes One to Accountability
The Minister of the Interior, Abdelouafi Laftit, emphasized that using smart applications to provide transport services without the necessary legal licenses is an unlawful practice. He noted that any entity lacking legal authority has no right to intervene or obstruct smart transport drivers.
In response to a written question from MP Aziza Boujird about the ongoing disputes between taxi drivers and smart transport application operators, Laftit explained that current laws prevent the use of private vehicles for passenger transport or mediation via smart applications without a license. He added that those committing these violations expose themselves to penalties stipulated in the Dahir related to road transport and the traffic code.
The minister indicated that security and judicial authorities are the only entities legally authorized to address these violations, highlighting that security forces, in coordination with regional authorities, conduct field campaigns to apprehend drivers using their private vehicles for passenger transport without a license, leading to their detention and confiscation of their vehicles.
Laftit confirmed that immediate interventions also occur in cases of disputes between taxi drivers and unauthorized application drivers or when such incidents are reported, in order to ensure public safety and prevent traffic disruptions. He stressed that any intervention by unauthorized entities is considered an illegal act punishable by law.
Regarding the regulation of taxi license exploitation, the Minister of the Interior pointed out that the ministry has taken several measures in coordination with professional bodies in the sector, particularly through Circular No. 444 issued on April 28, 2022, aimed at enhancing professionalism in license utilization and curbing previous practices, such as individuals exploiting more than one license without professional qualifications.
These measures included stipulating conditions for exploitation, limiting it to drivers holding a trust license and professional driver card, as well as not renewing exploitation contracts with non-professionals, and restricting the number of licenses that a natural person can operate to just one.
Laftit added that the regions and provinces have established local registries to document qualified professional drivers, with contracts needing to be signed exclusively with them, ensuring the stability of contractual relationships within the sector. The decision also mandated that recipients of license transfers renew their contracts exclusively with professional operators.
The minister concluded by asserting that the Ministry of the Interior, at both central and local levels, has launched an integrated action plan to modernize the sector and reinforce its professionalism by improving its organization, enhancing the quality of taxi services, and modernizing management through the integration of new technologies.
