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Legal experts have urged Beijing police to crack down on the illegal trade in secondhand cars and rogue repair shops, to cut the number of illegal black taxis, operating in the capital.

Procuratorates across the city report they have handled more than 158 cases related to black taxis since 2009, with prosecutors in Fengtai district trying 42 cases alone in the past year.

Charges have ranged from operating an unlicensed cab to intentional injury, robbery and rape, authorities said.

"The best way to tackle crimes or disputes arising from black taxis is to target the root cause, and that's the illegal sale of secondhand cars," said Wang Tingting, a prosecutor from Chaoyang district.

She said that thousands of vehicles are changing hands on the black market and that it was proving hard for police to keep track of them, explaining that many end up on the city's roads as unlicensed cabs.

All legally registered cars have their number plates registered in the capital's database, and Lu Xianping, who manages a secondhand car dealership in Fengtai, said the city has strict regulations for people buying used vehicles.

Buyers need to hand over their ID cards and driving licenses, while their details and those of sellers will also be recorded in the dealer's computer.

"However, deals on the black market are often made without a paper trail," he said.

"Some cars that were actually sent to be scrapped are even finding their way back into the market, which doesn't help."

What also makes things harder for police is when a driver repaints a vehicle to look like a genuine Beijing cab.

"People buy low-price cars from middlemen and then get counterfeit taxi licenses and plates, either from the same people or others who advertise such services," Wang said, adding that there are body shops that will re-spray vehicles with taxi colors and fit fake meters.

"Police should launch a campaign against black market sales, on top of their regular checks,” she said. "The priority should be on taking down those who make and sell fake certificates."

A spokesman for Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport declined to comment on the enforcement of laws against illegal taxi operators.

According to information posted on the authority's website, however, crackdowns are regularly organized during major events, such as the National Day holidays.

The checks are often conducted around railway stations and in cooperation with the public security bureau, it added.

"There are gaps in enforcement, of course. The police can't cover all areas at the same time,” Wang said, adding that black taxis are generally only discovered when a driver or passenger is the victim of an accident or crime.

"It's very unsafe for passengers, especially women, to take such cars at night or early in the morning," she warned.

"Some drivers are too strong for women to fight off, while some of these guys even get violent with police, when they are stopped for inspection."

Yan Li, a prosecutor from Haidian district, agreed that targeting the illegal sale of secondhand cars is the key to curbing the problem of black taxis, which "pose a real danger to the lives of residents and other drivers".

In July 2011, a woman was sexually assaulted and robbed of 5,000 yuan ($800) by a black-taxi driver close to the Sixth Ring Road. She had been returning home at about 4 am.

In another incident in Haidian district, Yin Guangming, a black-taxi driver, was tied up and robbed by two knife-wielding passengers as he drove near Sijiqing Bridge.

"Without insurance or safety equipment, such as GPS or an alarm, black-taxi drivers run an incredible risk," Yan said.

"Yet, even when something bad does happen, many of them stay silent and do not report it, as they are afraid of being prosecuted for running black taxis."

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）

About the broadcaster:

CJ Henderson is a foreign expert for China Daily's online culture department. CJ is a graduate of the University of Sydney where she completed a Bachelors degree in Media and Communications, Government and International Relations, and American Studies. CJ has four years of experience working across media platforms, including work for 21st Century Newspapers in Beijing, and a variety of media in Australia and the US.