Μake us preferred on Google A taxi driver extorted €600 from a tourist couple for a ride from Athens International Airport to central Athens, according to information cited by Greek media.
The incident has prompted criticism within Greece’s taxi industry, particularly because the same driver is reportedly alleged to have committed similar offenses in the past.
Olga Petraki, president of the Regional Taxi Council of Attica, said the case highlights what she described as inadequate state oversight of who is allowed to enter the profession.
“This shows that the state is incapable of controlling who enters this profession,” Petraki said. “We want it to give us the tools to prevent such problems.”
She said there were straightforward ways to strengthen oversight, including allowing the industry itself to screen drivers before they enter the profession, as is done in other countries.
Industry calls for stricter driver controls
Petraki proposed adopting a model used in Madrid, where the federation has exclusive responsibility for training, evaluating and licensing taxi drivers.
Under that system, the federation also maintains a registry that allows a driver’s license to be immediately revoked in cases of misconduct.
Petraki argued that giving the industry greater responsibility for screening and monitoring drivers could help prevent incidents such as the alleged €600 charge from recurring.
