TAXI CABS, PRIVATE TRUCKS, MOTORCYCLES, BICYCLES, PRIVATE CARS/DRIVING LICENSES, PLATES, ETC.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000500600278-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 2, 2011
• Sequence Number: 278
• Publication Date: August 17, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/02/02 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000500600278-5
U.S. Officials only
CONFIVENTIAL
COUNTRY Ruo.nia
.z _
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
SUBJECT Taxi Cabs, Private Trucks, Motorcycles, Bicycles,
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DATE DISTR. I7 AoG St
NO. OF PAGES
NO. OF ENCLS.
SUPP. TO
REPORT NO.
"Taxi Cabs- ALl taxi cabs in Bucharest are pt-e.te. There is no co-
operative for taxi drivern, nor have drivers been organized in any other
way. By law issued by the CMOB :Ieadquarters of the Bucharest City
Militia (through the Directia Serviciului Circulatiei, or DSC - the
Directorate of Traffic Control Service), taxi cabs may make tri,a within
the capital, up to, and not exceeding, the so-called 'Livia de Cinturs'
or 'Linia F'orturilor' (City Limits) Taxis may exceed those limits
only if the car and driver have been hired b;. s_.-fate Institution - even
for a single trip. For thie, thy ca;y ariveisneod. n special permit, issue
of which is made by tby DS(' of the CMOB. as per written and official
request made by the interested S'.ate Institution. The permit is issued
for both cab-driver and car
2. "NOV the old system of hutorastl: rcari f!' taxation and automatic apparatus
Zsic,, has been completely abo.iishyd. Thre are. no official or approved
cab fares; prices are agre-d upon by the cab-driver and client. Thus,
prices are high. There ar- very few taxi cabs in Bucharest, and, it is
a real problem foe a cab-driver r.o ke-.p his car in good running conai-
tion. The total lack of spar. parts; i, the problem: drivers often must
perform miracles to repair th?-4 ' 7 vehlclea The appearance of these cabs
cannot be described; they ar- uatiai"'r--{o combination of makes,. Tires are
usuall.y purchased through t.i;= black marks t. prices depending on the
condition of the ,ire In g.a.-ral, a b.lac!e market tire ranges, in
price, from 0(i-1500 11.1.. k;r:r. ~b :aeri i:? i v."r have been hired by a
State Institution, th.- .r.: ? I of I.i.:, V....i.... rre?.its: since the
Institution coo-e-tsord nr:J r u, p-, 1 running condition (1-?a.rticuiarly
for tripe; Jt Yf-u7 .nF it, ,o 'i" , ..s ;.n supply the vehicle
io going to be used for two
U.S. Officials Onty
COI'.F LI)EN'l'IAL/
ED 1-5 r, l BlT'ION s* IATr. I Av.NY NAY . I Aii+ i- FBI I 1
'I'fls eport Is for Ow use within the 1'SA of the Inteingence components of the. Departments or
ARenciei lndieat.rd above. ft is r,,-,t to be transmit!ed :,vrrseas without the concurrence of tO- '
originating shits through the Asr i taeft Director or the Ohice of Collection and Dlsseminat.inii, CIA,
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/02/02 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000500600278-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/02/02 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000500600278-5
or three months time). In this case, the Institution issues the cab??
driver a declaration stating that the vehicle and driver have been
hired for the use of the Institution, and requesting that the driver be
issued a permit to purchase tires in State Stores, at official prices.
This declaration is taken by the,cal-driver to the local City Sector
People's Board, Local Industry Section, for registration; and, after
receiving the final approval of the Commerce Section of the same City
Sector People's Board, the cab-driver may purchase tires from the
Z.C.S. Ferometal State Store, located opposite the former Jalea Shop
(nowadays also an I,C..S. Ferometal State Store) at Sf. Gheorghe on
Blv. 1848 (formerly Colter), The official price for a new tire, brand
unknown, is 550 lei.
3. "Cabs cannot be called by phone; taxi cabs for hire may be found, partic-
ularly, in the following places:
a. Main Railway Station, and fi Rstern Railway Station.
b. In front of the C C.A (Casa Centrala a Armatei -
Central House of th(- Army, formerly Cercul Militar)
on V i ctoriei. St:rerrt
c. Natiunei Square; in front of the meat market.
d. In front of the Central. People's Board of the City
(parked on Bursei Street)..
e. Near the Athene Palace
f.. Near the Ambas,;ador Hotel
g.. In general, near al.L markets :(Obor Market, I. May Market,
etc.,)
it. "While it is rather difficult to es1Laate fares, normally they are as
follows.:
a. From the city. center (say, Balcescu Square) to the
Nothepn Railway Station, approximately 40 lef
b.. From the city suburbs (say, Grand Bridge on
Grivitei. Street), to Balcescu Square. approximately 60 101
5. "Gasoline is purchased by the drivers, from the Competrol distributing
centers in Bucharest, without coupons, at the rate of 3.00 2g.e per
liter.
o? It is generally known that there are MESS informers among cab drivers.
These informers are ordered to report-
a. Conversations of political, connercial or-subversive
nature,
b. Transporting of goods from one place to another,(in
order to prevent black market sale.)
7? "The use of a taxi cab may attract the attention of authorities. (This
is not true when a cab is used from home to for ftLIway station, and
vice versa). The use of a cab by an ordinary citizen raises immediate
suspicion. A taxi ride from a cinema, restaurant, etc., to a home
might be questioned if the driver reported it to his superiors. If
such a ride was questioned, the investigation would be handled very
discreetly and quietly, but might culminate, later, in the arrest of
the passenger.
8. "Private Care: Nowadays, the only category of
person still
{bra
car, includes doctors, artists, wr;;rr=., etc. Doctors have c-,t2.-ai
sign on the front and rear wincou ; o~ ..secs r ve'.;iclc s; it is a (home-
made) red cross. All Tatr', --nine cars, are. MSS ve:ucleu.
They have rh.-. aloe, r. i i:u plat,::; ae do n- a tc veh.icles, and are
ei'.:he:? gr,:y or
CONFIDENTIAL/US OFFICIALS ONLY
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/02/02 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000500600278-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/02/02 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000500600278-5