Taxis will be inspected starting on Monday to determine if GPS equipment is properly installed and used, the Transport Control Department has announced.

TCD plans to enforce laws which state taxi operators must register their vehicles with a dispatching service and appropriately equip them.

A notice released by the TCD read: "Please be advised that effective November 1, 2010 during the annual vehicle licensing examination for taxis, a Transport Control Department traffic officer will inspect the vehicle to assess whether it is equipped with the GPS equipment required by law and the same is in working order and switched on.

"If there are any deficiencies, you will be advised and you should expect to receive notice from the public service vehicles licensing board to appear before the board on a specific date."

According to Tafari Outerbridge, of Island Taxi, some drivers are paying attention to the notice. TCD staff have been very helpful, he said, but in the end every individual driver has a choice to make on whether they will comply or not.

But Mr. Outerbridge added: "The law is the law. Everyone has to comply with the law and taxi drivers are no different."

Gilbert Trott, at the Bermuda Taxi Association, said they were in full support of the GPS legislation.

"The stance of the association is that we are in full compliance with the law.

"This association was built on the law and that was established by my predecessor Mr. Michael Ray and we are no different, we are still operating within the boundaries of the law."