Taxi Driver Online

COUNCIL officers in West Dunbartonshire may soon be able to issue penalties to taxi operators working in the area illegally.

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That’s after talks between seven local authorities were held to force through cross-border legislation.

Similar to a national piece of legislation, the overhaul would mean any taxi from any of the other six local authorities involved, would be under the legislation of West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) if operating here and vice versa.

A spokeswoman for WDC would not comment on whether the proposal was likely to go through or not, but did offer an insight into the power available to council officers.

She said: “If approved, sanctions against licence holders would have to be taken by the issuing authority, however under sections of national law, officers would be able to issue a suspension notice for unfit vehicles.”

The move comes after complaints about outside firms operating illegally in various local authorities, where drivers were not subject to recourse from council officers who had no power to enforce penalties.

Along with WDC, Glasgow City, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, and South Lanarkshire councils are all keen on seeing the legislation pushed through.

Initial discussions raised “common concerns” about the operation of taxis and private hire cabs in local authorities they don’t belong to and where legislation fits in with them. Safety concerns to the general public were also raised.

Action can only be taken on drivers from local authorities that have bought into the cross-border legislation scheme. So far only one Glasgow City Council has made the changes.


http://www.dumbartonreporter.co.uk/news ... sanctions/

so are they trying to change this?

21 Offences.

(1)If any person—

(a)operates, or permits the operation of, a taxi within an area in respect of which its operation requires to be but is not licensed or the driver requires to be but is not licensed, or

(b)picks up passengers in, or permits passengers to be picked up by, a private hire car within an area in respect of which its operation requires to be but is not licensed or the driver requires to be but is not licensed,

that person shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F24level 4 on the standard scale].

(2)Subsection (1) above does not apply to the operation of a taxi or private hire car within an area in respect of which its operation or its driver is not licensed if the request for its hiring was received by its driver [F25(otherwise than in a public place from the person to be conveyed in it, or a person acting on his behalf, for a journey beginning there and then)] whilst—

(a)in the area or in that part thereof in respect of which its operation and its driver are licensed;

(b)engaged on hire on a journey which began in that area or part or will end there; or

(c)returning to that area or part immediately following completion of a journey on hire.

Hope that means that out of towners such as North Lanarkshire taxis will get done for sitting in George Square with their for hire lights on at midnite every Friday and Saturday night. And Airdie taxis cruising the city with their lights on too. I dug one of them up and they said they couldn't switch it of ffs

Does he often get a flat battery?

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Grandad,