Taxi Driver Online

Top cabbie welcomes regulated meters

Published on Monday 11 April 2011 13:40

A leading taxi-driver has praised the introduction of new regulated meters to control fares and stop tampering.

Chairman David Hopton, of the Hackney Drivers’ Association, welcomed Chesterfield Borough Council’s decision to standardise meters for Hackney and private hire cabbies so the system now operates with fixed-rate fare readings across the region.

Mr Hopton said: “We’ve been pushing for this for a couple of years because a minority of rogue cab drivers who have tampered with meters have tarnished law-abiding drivers’ reputations.

“The council listened to the trade and I praise them for bringing in this regulation.”

New meters are programmed and calendar-controlled to operate correct and proper rates at different times of the day and on Sundays and bank holidays.

The council also recently introduced limits on the numbers of cabs in the region after The Hackney Drivers Association campaigned that too much competition was making it hard to earn a living and was leading to meter tampering.

Source; http://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/l ... _1_3276562

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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The council fixing Private Hire fares??

Is that legal??

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
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Here's the price difference between coming back from Chesterfield on the meter and not coming back on the meter. Coming back on the meter with a Chesterfield HC one drop off will cost you £23 on T2. Coming back off the meter priced by the driver £35+.

_________________
Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

Believe me, don't get Mercury X2

If the destination is in a different borough then the driver can charge whatever is agreed.

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Grandad,

What if it's not?

_________________
Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

Believe me, don't get Mercury X2

Then he is committing at least two offences!!

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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Then the fare can be no more than the metered rate.

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Grandad,

the metered fare being the maximum, discounts can be given..

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

We already work under that format. Admittedly we only have an extra £1 after midnight and all day Sunday, but bank hols are already programmed in...........not a problem if you are honest.

_________________
if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

So what happens when a customer is charged £30+ for a £22 fare?

_________________
Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

Believe me, don't get Mercury X2

How do you know it's a £22 fare?

If the journey starts and terminates within the licensing authority in which the Hackney Carriage is licensed, then the licensed driver cannot charge more than the metered fare (TPC 1847) and must use the taximeter (usually covered in the byelaws).

If the driver has used the taximeter, then the fare recorded is the fare payable.

The only way the recorded fare will be incorrect is;
1. If there is a multi-tariff Fare Table but the driver has to select the tariff manually.
2. If the driver has a calendar controlled taximeter and has the access codes available and a modicum of intelligence, he can fiddle the time on the meter.

Why do you insist that you have been charged £30+ for a £22 fare; what were the circumstances?

Are you not perhaps getting confused with night or Bank Holiday fares, which in most LAs are more expensive?

But if a customer is charged £30+ for a £22 fare, then the matter should be reported to the Licensing Enforcement Officer, quoting the plate number of the vehicle, driver's badge number and time and date of the incident.

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
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When debating on the TDO Forum.

We actually do not have this in our byelaws at the moment.

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Grandad,

It's in the model ones from the DfT, so when were your approved by your council?

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

I haven't a clue. The council are working on the problem at the moment and the bylaws should be changed soon.

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Grandad,

No, but they can seal a meter if it accords with the displayed tariff.

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IDFIMH