One Year of Implementing the Federal Taxi Law: Challenges and Solutions
On September 1, 2023, Russia’s Federal Taxi Law came into force, bringing noticeable changes for both passengers and drivers. Fare prices increased, hundreds of thousands of self-employed drivers left the industry, and many shifted to operating unofficially.
On September 19, during an extended cross-party meeting at the Russian State Duma, Anton Palyulin presented findings from a comprehensive study of regional taxi regulations conducted by Palyulin & Partners Law Firm.
Key Regulatory Issues Identified
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Lack of Uniform Standards for Regional Taxi Registries
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No unified methodology, formatting, or mandatory templates exist for maintaining registries of taxi operators, carriers, and dispatch services.
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63 out of 89 Russian regions fail to maintain one or more required registries, relying instead on the federal FGIS "Taxi" system.
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No Real-Time OSAGO Insurance Verification
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Registries are not linked to insurers’ databases, preventing real-time checks on active/expired auto insurance policies.
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As a result, ride-hailing platforms bear subsidiary liability for accidents involving drivers, making self-employed drivers undesirable partners.
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Proposed Legislative Amendments
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Eliminate mandatory uniform taxi color schemes (currently required for licensing).
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Ban dynamic pricing surges during emergencies or when transporting passengers with children.
