Baku taxi drivers say marked taxi stands are being occupied by other vehicles, leaving licensed drivers with nowhere to wait and exposing them to fines when they stop elsewhere to collect or drop off passengers.
A local television report documented the problem on Basti Bagirova, Ahmed Javad and Izmir streets. Drivers said the situation creates inconvenience for passengers and makes it difficult for taxis to stop safely near busy destinations.
Several motorists parked in taxi areas were unable to show permits to the reporter. Some said their authorization was recorded electronically or that their documents were at home. A refusal or inability to produce a document for a journalist does not by itself prove that a permit is missing.
The report also raised allegations that some vehicles display taxi signs even when they are not operating as taxis, but it did not establish how widespread that practice is.
Police representative Toghrul Nasirli said enforcement raids are being conducted. Under Article 346.6 of Azerbaijan’s Code of Administrative Offenses, a non-taxi vehicle parked at a taxi stand is subject to a 40-manat fine and two penalty points.
A transport expert said the Azerbaijan Land Transport Agency, known as AYNA, and the traffic police need sustained joint oversight, especially near hospitals, metro stations and other heavily used facilities.
The original report and video segment were published by Vesti Baku.