Rental Car Dealers Seek Police Aid To Stop Illegal Activities
Assistant Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu called on rental car dealers to better “vet” their customers before issuing vehicles to them for hire.
The Fiji Rental Car Association (FRCA) met with the Police on Wednesday to discuss ways in which illegal activities carried out using hired vehicles could be curbed.
Key on the agenda was the issues of rental cars being used as getaway vehicles in robberies, failure to return rented cars within the agreed period and drinking and driving.
“We will ask everybody that is operating cars for hire to come and do legal business,” said FRCA president Mohammed Sareem.
“We will also ask everybody not to engage into illegal hiring of cars.”
Mr Sareem estimated that losses from illegal activities in the rental car business accumulated a worth upwards of $100,000 a year. Other issues heard by Chief Operations Officer Assistant Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu at the meeting included customers using rented vehicles as taxis, over-speeding and issues related to payments.
ACP Tudravu told executives of the association at the meeting: “The purpose is for me to just come here and hear you out and this is the start of our continuous meeting from which we will map a way forward.” Mr Tudravu called on rental car dealers to better “vet” their customers before issuing vehicles to them for hire.
“We will ask everybody that is operating cars for hire to come and do legal business,” said Fiji Rental Car Association president Mohammed Sareem.
Also present at the meeting was Director of Traffic Senior Superintendent Mahesh Mishra, who urged rental car companies to work with Police to prevent illegal activities continuing in business.