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As phone apps for booking a taxi or a limo get more popular, drivers with rental cars are also jumping in to grab these calls, according to car rental industry sources. These drivers are breaking the law; and this has prompted the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to act. LTA officials met car rental companies and taxi operators last week to remind them of the rules, the second time it has done so in less than a year. Other than taxis, only company-owned vehicles insured as limousines and driven by its employees are allowed under the law to ferry passengers for a fee. This rule is to ensure passengers are covered by insurance should something go wrong during the journey. Those caught flouting the law can be fined up to $3,000 or jailed for up to six months or both. The cars involved may also be impounded. As it is difficult for commuters to distinguish legal limos from illegal ones, industry players are suggesting safeguards. Mr. Peter Cheong, President of the Vehicle Rental Association, advises people hiring a limo via mobile apps to ask for a written assurance from the rental or leasing company that the vehicle used is legal. The association has also advised its members not to rent their cars to those who intend to use them for ferrying commuters. Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/transport/story/lta-cracks-down-illegal-rental-car-taxis-20140428