controversial January 4 holiday -- because of a $40,000 row over meters.

Taxi meters would have to be retuned to automatically charge holiday rates on January 4.

But transport officials have refused to pay the $65 charge for each meter to be recalibrated.

It would cost the Transport Control Department almost $40,000 if all 600 taxis were changed for the day.

So transport chiefs have decided to give drivers "fare sheets'', instead.

Now some drivers are worried cabbies will charge different rates and claim mistakes could easily be made.

The confusion means TCD could receive an explosion of complaints from drivers and customers in the New Year.

Technical expert Dennis Eve, who recalibrates meters for TCD, said: "The rate sheets are not going to work.

"Firstly, it relies on taxi drivers going to pick them up. Then people can make errors and drivers will be charging different rates.

"I offered to recalibrate the meters for this holiday but TCD didn't want it.

They have tried to shy away from publicity because if nobody's complaining they are happy.

"But now there could be several complaints -- more than ever. And by law, all meters are supposed to be changed to the holiday rate anyway.'' TCD director Donald Dane would not comment last night.

Shadow Transport Minister Erwin Adderley said: "This is not the proper procedure at all.

"Now we will have passengers seeing a price on the meter and being charged something else. How are drivers going to explain that confusion to them?'' Neville Darrell, president of the taxi drivers' wing of the Bermuda Industrial Union, said: "I'm not aware of any problems yet and if this has to happen, it has to happen.

"I know some drivers don't want to charge the holiday rate on January 4 because they see it as the people's holiday.'' Drivers are supposed to charge 25 percent on top of the normal fare when carrying one to four passengers on holidays and Sundays.

They should charge an extra 50 percent if they have five or six passengers in their taxis.

A Transport Department spokesman said: "Drivers will simply have to go to TCD to pick up their rate sheets.

"It is a fair chunk of change to recalibrate a meter and to have all 600 taxis done would cost thousands.

"We are only talking about one day here, it's a one-off, so this is the best way forward. Besides, some drivers are believed to have made their own minds up not to charge the holiday rate on January 4.''