Miaoli County raises taxi fares 30% for Lunar New Year

MIAOLI (TVBS News) — Miaoli County (苗栗縣) announced a temporary adjustment to taxi fares on Thursday (Jan. 16) from Jan. 25 to Feb. 2 during the Lunar New Year holiday. The county government aims to ease the workload of taxi drivers and prevent fare disputes by implementing a 30% fare increase, similar to last year's standards. The original fare structure will resume on Feb. 3.

The standard fare includes a daytime rate from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., starting at NT$100 for the first 1,250 meters, with NT$5 for each additional 200 meters. The nighttime rate from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. starts at NT$120 for the same distance. The county's Economic Development Department (工商發展處) advises passengers to report any fare violations or service refusals.

To protect their rights, passengers can call the complaint hotline at the Hsinchu District Supervision Office at 0800-231-035 or the Miaoli County Government service numbers at 0963-536693 and 0921-374099. In contrast, Kaohsiung City (高雄市) will impose a NT$50 surcharge on taxi fares from Jan. 24 to Feb. 2. The city's Transportation Bureau (交通局) confirmed that the meters already include the holiday surcharge, simplifying passenger payment.

The bureau emphasized the importance of recognizing the efforts of taxi drivers providing services during the holiday season. As the Lunar New Year approaches, passengers are advised to remain informed about fare changes to ensure a smooth travel experience.