Taxi Driver Online

Taxis must have meters installed from April next year, Fenland councillors decide


METERS are set to be displayed in Fenland’s taxis from April next year after councillors today approved a new policy.

Fenland District Council’s licensing committee ratified a revised Hackney Carriage and Private Hire policy during its meeting at Fenland Hall.

The revised policy was drawn up following a 12-week consultation with taxi firms and drivers, which closed on Monday last week.

It will now be sent to Cabinet for final approval with a motion that, if it’s agreed, it should come into force on April 1 next year.

The draft policy included in a report to councillors said: “All Hackney Carriage vehicles licensed or to be licensed shall have a taximeter fitted.

“Each taximeter shall be tested by one of the council’s approved testing centres in order to establish that the meter does not produce a fare in excess of the maximums prescribed in the current Hackney Carriage Fare Tariff approved by the council.”

The meter “shall be placed in a safe position and so far as possible so that all letters and figures on the face thereof shall be at all times plainly visible to any persons being conveyed in the carriage.

“For that purpose, the letter and figures shall be capable of being suitably illuminated during the period of hiring.”

Licensing officers or police officers will be able to inspect the meter “at all reasonable times” and if they are not satisfied with its accuracy the vehicle license could be suspended until is returned to a satisfactory state.

The report added: “If the officer or constable is not so satisfied within two months of the initial inspection, the Hackney Carriage Licence shall be deemed revoked.”

The decision has, however, left many taxi drivers fearing that people will not use taxis because they will be too expensive.

Fenland councillor Dave Patrick, who is also chairman of the Wisbech and District Hackney Carriage Drivers Association, said: “I believe the implementation of meters will cause severe damage to the trade because people will not know what they are going to pay for their trip.

“Our view is that it will drive people away from using the trade because it will push prices up locally - we have set prices for certain trips which are lower than the rate set by the council and in many cases we undercharge passengers.”

He also said that some drivers may turn down jobs because the cost of travelling to collection points and from drop-off points.

“For example, if someone calls a Wisbech firm wanting to travel from Upwell to Outwell a driver won’t travel all that way to earn what could be the minimum rate,” he said. “It will cost more to fuel your car.” (Drivers must charge £3.31 for the first 1.4 miles of a journey).

Cllr Patrick said the association is considering petitioning the public about the council’s decision. A decision on whether to petition will be taken within the next 24 hours.

He said: “We believe that the public will strongly support the present way we operate.”

source: http://www.wisbechstandard.co.uk/news/taxis_must_have_meters_installed_from_april_next_year_fenland_councillors_decide_1_1116753

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Must they? I thought the fare shown on the meter was the maximum not the minimum.

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Grandad,

This is a standard requirement for all authorities, however it now makes it a criminal offence to carry a wheelchair bound passenger, they cannot see the meter at all times, therefore they are getting a lesser service than an able bodied person. This is against the Equality bill, £1000 fine.

Is Fenland the only place in the UK that does not have meters in the hacks???
I thought they where compulsory in all hacks

Not compulsory

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

No act says they are mandatory.

But one or two council sadly are still stuck in the eighteenth century.

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IDFIMH

Not for long tho

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

I believe Epping Forest still don't have meters.

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Nobody told me to use my initiative. To err is human to arr is pirate.

On the contrary; no meters at all soon - anywhere!!!

Law Commission, deregulatory approach, no rules, do what you like, charge what you like, cartels operating at very busy times, etc., etc.!!

If they are going to dereguate every thing, why on earth would they mandate that taxis or PH for that matter should have a meter.

Stick your finger out the window and depending how the wind blows that's what you charge the passenger!!

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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 meant that they would not be stuck in the 18th century for much longer

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

No meters in Rutland either.

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Grandad,

Is there anything more cartel(ish) than restricted taxi numbers?

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IDFIMH

What does the nineteen canteen town and police act say then, I can only find reference that if the vehicle is licenced as a hackney it must have a way of showing the passengers the fare

Could that mean the table of fares?

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Grandad,

Grandad

I dont know, as it say a mechanical device must be fitted and engaged once the passenger has taken there seat, or something along those lines, the first meters where mechanical
I wonder if that was also a reference to the London cabby's brain