Traffic disrupted by taxi protest
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Traffic built up during a taxi protest in the centre of Belfast on Thursday
Protests by taxi drivers have caused major traffic disruption in the centre of Belfast on Thursday afternoon.
The public hire drivers claim they are being harassed by police and DoE enforcement officers over the way they park while waiting for passengers.
Protesting driver Vincent O'Hare said there were now 650 public hire taxis in Belfast.
"The ranks are too small, we've nowhere to go so we've no option but to double- park round the ranks," he said.
A DoE spokesperson said the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) could confirm that its enforcement officers had issued advice and warnings "to over 100 hackney carriage drivers in recent days regarding various road traffic contraventions, including oversubscribing at taxi ranks where roads have been partially blocked and motorists inconvenienced".
"Action taken to date has included directing the obstructive vehicles away from the problem hot spot areas and issuing drivers with copies of the 1951 By-Laws that relate to Motor Hackney Carriages," they said.
The spokesperson said the DVA did not have responsibility for the provision of taxi ranks as this regulatory function fell under the remit of the Department of Regional Development.
A police spokesperson said police were "there to enforce the law and if anyone breaks the law they will be dealt with appropriately".
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