RIGA — An apparent turf war between two rival Riga taxi companies erupted last night following an altercation involving two competing cab drivers in Old Town, according to information from the Riga Municipal Police.
Police say drivers from the Rigas Transporta Sabiedrība cab company, which drive white Toyota cars, clashed with a another driver from the airBaltic airline’s newly launched Baltic Taxi company.
Baltic Taxi board member Janis Naglis said a female Baltic Taxi driver was attacked by competing taxi drivers after picking up several English-speaking passengers. Three Rigas Transporta Sabiedrība surrounded her cab, blocking her from driving.
‘”Luckily municipal police were patrolling the area and they were able to take care of the situation without incident,” said Naglis.
Riga Municipal Police public relations specialist Inese Tīmane said one of the taxis sped away when police arrived on the scene shortly before midnight.
Tīmane confirmed that one of the Baltic Taxi’s tire was slashed during the incident.
The taxi drivers involved in last night’s altercation have been interviewed by the State Police and criminal proceedings have been launched.
Latvian police allege that Baltic Taxi's competitor Rigas Transporta Sabiedrība isn't above using violence to intimidate the new company. Photo courtesy of Baltic Taxi.
Baltic Taxi, which has been operating on a trial basis since mid-August, was officially launched on Monday.
The company was established in cooperation with Latvian national airline airBaltic with the aim of offering an honest taxi service for tourists and locals in Riga.
The unscrupulous and fraudulent practices of some taxi operators have long frustrated tourism operators, which they say have been allowed to flourish largely unchecked by authorities.
“The Riga City Council, the police, the Prosecutors Office, the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB), the municipal police, the Government and the Prime Minister, they all are aware of the fact that taxi drivers cheat tourists and local people. Unfortunately, nobody has done anything to ensure order,” airBaltic President and CEO Bertolt Flick said in a statement following the launch of the new taxi company.
According to Flick the dubious practices within the taxi and night club business has damaged not just the Latvian tourism industry but the economy as a whole.
“The Latvian economy has possibly lost tens of millions of lats because of shortcomings in the taxi and night club businesses in the country. Drivers who behave like highway bandits are co-responsible for the fact that in the Nordic countries, Riga is seen as a city that is unfriendly to tourists,” Flick said.
Baltic Taxi currently operates 50 Toyota Corolla Verso vehicles in and around Riga, Jūrmala and the Riga International Airport. They plan to increase the fleet to 250 vehicles.
