Beijing, Jan 19 (IANS) Starting April 1, Chinese taxi drivers who refuse to take passengers or take longer routes to increase fares will face fines up to 200 yuan ($30).

This follows a new regulation by the transportation authority, the China Daily reported Thursday.

Taxi drivers could also be fined for pre-arranging a price higher than what the meter would read for the same trip or for dumping passengers in the middle of a trip.

Aggrieved passengers can complain to local transportation authorities, the regulation says.

Previously, some cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai, also drafted rules regulating the taxi sector. But there was no nationwide regulation.

The new regulation for the first time asks all taxi drivers to take qualification tests.

According to rules, taxi drivers can refuse drunk people without company, passengers who try to get cabs in areas where parking is prohibited and those carrying flammables and explosives.

In Beijing, they can also say no to passengers who take pets.