A group of licensed Vehicle for Hire with Driver (VTC) operators in Barcelona has initiated direct action, confronting drivers suspected of illegal operations at Barcelona-El Prat Airport and throughout the metropolitan area. These operators are targeting vehicles using fraudulent licences, duplicated number plates, or exceeding legal operating limits.

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Operating from the designated VTC pick-up zone at Terminal 1, these licensed drivers use high-end vehicles. They meticulously check incoming number plates against a Ministry of Transport website to identify non-compliant vehicles. When an illegal vehicle is identified, a team member records the driver with a mobile phone.

During one such confrontation, a VTC operator addressed a passenger, stating, “Madam, this car is illegal. Do not get in.” The passenger, who had ordered the service via a mobile application, expressed surprise. The operator reassured her, “It is for your safety. This car is not in order. Order another. If it takes time, we will provide one.” The driver of the suspected illegal vehicle, appearing bewildered, muttered, “Look, I have only been doing this for two months, I do not know what you are telling me.” The VTC group then instructed him, “Leave! You cannot work here!”

Targeting Unlicensed VTC Operations

The VTC operators, who say they draw inspiration from Élite Taxi leader Alberto Álvarez, known as ‘Tito’, have compiled a list of approximately 200 suspected illegal number plates. They are creating a database of these ‘pirate’ drivers. The group hopes both the Ajuntament de Barcelona and the Generalitat de Catalunya will take decisive action against this unfair competition. Many illegal drivers reportedly use licences from other Spanish autonomous communities.

Spanish regulations permit these out-of-region VTCs to operate only 20% of their working hours within Catalonia. However, enforcement agents currently lack effective methods to verify compliance with this percentage. Other illicit practices include drivers telling platforms they will use one licence for multiple vehicles or drivers. They then exploit numerous unlicensed cars. Some even duplicate number plates, with one instance noted where a plate was incorrectly installed upside down.

Platform Responses and Enforcement Challenges

Ride-hailing platforms like Bolt state they possess mechanisms to detect such irregularities. A Bolt spokesperson confirmed, “When we identify licences operating outside their territorial scope or any other improper use, we deactivate the accounts.” Uber and Cabify also affirm their commitment to combating fraud within their services. Despite these measures, the problem persists.

Illegal operators occasionally face fines ranging from €2,000 to €4,000, alongside vehicle immobilisation. However, these penalties are often factored into their business model as a cost of operation. The initial investment in VTC licences, which were once acquired for around €30, soared to €10,000, then €50,000, and later €90,000. Today, a VTC licence, often bundled with a high-end vehicle, can command prices up to €200,000. These operators also utilise WhatsApp groups to share information about police controls.

Calls for Stronger Government Action

Muhammad Bilal, representing Aurora, an association of VTC licence holders and drivers, expressed satisfaction with the Mossos d’Esquadra’s efforts. However, he urged the Ajuntament and the Generalitat to intensify their actions against unfair competition. Bilal highlighted the disparity, stating, “It cannot be that these people continue to do what they want while we are fined thousands of euros for not carrying a badge that the Generalitat itself takes years to send.” He emphasised the desire of licensed drivers to simply work.

Bilal also addressed the new law from the Generalitat, which he believes will significantly impact many VTC operators in the Barcelona metropolitan area. Despite concerns, he affirmed a willingness to adapt. “I have already signed up for the B1 Catalan course,” he noted, indicating a commitment to meeting future requirements. While acknowledging that converting to taxi drivers might not be the ideal solution, Bilal stressed, “But we also need a future.”

This ongoing tension underscores the urgent need for clearer regulations and more robust enforcement within Barcelona’s VTC sector. The Generalitat’s upcoming legislation aims to address these issues, but its implementation will be crucial for resolving the conflict between licensed and illegal operators and ensuring fair competition across the region.

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Originally published by La Vanguardia Barcelona. Read original article.