Taxi drivers who have failed to install a new mandatory satellite navigation system in their cabs are being ordered to stop taking fares.

Cabbies had until midnight on Sunday to get the GPS tracking device put in their taxis ? and those that haven?t were told by traffic officers from the Transport Control Department (TCD) yesterday that they could no longer pick up passengers.

TCD Director Randy Brangman told that his staff patrolled the airport and cruise ship ports with a hit list of 120 taxis still without the new equipment.

The list was compiled with the help of the three companies offering GPS to cabbies ? BTA Dispatching, Radio Cabs and Co-Op Taxis.

Mr. Brangman said 16 or 17 vehicles were inspected and their owners told to stop ?applying for hire?. One taxi driver who refused to stop work was issued an on-the-spot fine by a Police officer.

?We have a list of all 600 taxis that are licensed in Bermuda and the dispatching companies let us have a list of all those that have had the GPS installed,? said Mr. Brangman. ?From that we could work out who hadn?t and so have a list of all those without GPS.

?Traffic officers had the list, looked in the vehicle and confirmed there was no system and consequently asked them to move off the line.

?I think the word got out after we had stopped so many and those drivers without GPS left the airport and the cruise ship ports. They weren?t happy. I would assume they are going to be running to the dispatching companies.?

He said the TCD patrols would continue this week and for as long as was necessary to ensure that all cabs are properly equipped with the tracking system in accordance with the Motor Car Amendment Act 2005.

The cabbies caught without GPS will go before a special meeting of the Public Service Vehicle Licensing Board on Thursday morning. Mr. Brangman said the board would determine what penalties, if any, to impose.

Letters are also being sent to all the 120 drivers ? who comprise 20 percent of the Island?s taxi fleet ? who haven?t complied with the law warning them that they must do so immediately if they wish to continue operating.

?The taxi drivers that are complying with the law were happy to see that traffic officers were enforcing the legislation,? said Mr. Brangman. ?I wouldn?t think the others were happy but surprisingly they didn?t argue, apart from one driver. They got in their cars and drove off.?

He said that one driver told not to take fares at the airport drove to St. George?s where he was ordered again to stop work.

Taxi drivers were originally given until February 6 to get the high-tech equipment installed under legislation introduced by Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown.

That was extended for a six-month period until August 6 for cabbies in financial hardship. Mr. Brangman said: ?I guess some people want grace on top of grace.?

Michael Ray, owner of BTA Dispatching, the Island?s largest taxi firm, said he had experienced a rush of drivers wanting the equipment installed in the run-up to Cup Match and yesterday.

He said of yesterday?s TCD patrols: ?I guess that?s their role. They are the watchdogs for anything that?s regulated by the Ministry and I guess they are going to do their job.?

Meanwhile, a resident told that there was a shortage of taxis at the airport on Saturday night as passengers disembarked from four planes.

The man, who had gone to pick up his father-in-law, said at least 20 empty cabs with no lights on were parked opposite the arrivals hall but there were no taxis available to pick up fares.

?Eventually cabs began to arrive and people had to share them,? said the man, who asked not to be named. ?We were going to Paget and had to share with some visitors travelling to Devonshire. It was ridiculous.?

Mr. Brangman said the empty cabs were probably waiting for pre-booked fares. But he added: ?The dispatching companies maybe need to get on to their drivers and get them to go to the airport.

?If all taxi drivers turn GPS on, the taxi drivers can be dispatched to the airport much faster.?