The City Police have launched a campaign which will run from Monday to Friday this week and check that vehicles with up to nine seats (including the driver) comply with current regulations.
Vehicles hired out with a driver (VTC) are regarded as a form of passenger transport. They are governed in the entire Barcelona metropolitan area by regulations on the conditions for commercial use and authorisations for hired passenger vehicles of up to nine seats with drivers.
Infringements of these regulations may represent unfair competition with regard to metropolitan taxi licences. The goal of this campaign is therefore to combat intrusive practices and conduct which is not permitted for these types of vehicles, whether parked or circulating in the city.
The type of conduct to be penalised relates to the parking and circulation of VTCs (these may not park or circulate with the intention of gaining customers who have not previously booked their services), the illegal offer of hire services, the lack of authorisations and necessary documents etc.
Checks and inspections will mainly be carried out in areas with a strong presence of these vehicles: train and bus stations, tourist attractions, shopping areas and the main streets in the city.