Taxi Driver Online

The governing body in Northern Ireland - the Department of the Environment (DoE) wish to standardise both taxi and private hire fares throughout the whole of Northern Ireland and the plans are currently out for consultation with all concerned including operators (both taxi and private hire), drivers and customers.

The consultation ends on 17th February

There has been talk on the forum elsewhere that The Law Commission is awaiting what happens accross the Irish Sea-but my personal view is that unification will not take place and they will still have seperate taxi and private hire as at present BUT from what I can make out, both will be charging the same fares - how Irish is that? (I stand corrected if that is not the proposal!

However, the fare structure and proposals , whether it be taxi only or taxi and private hire is as follows

Starting fare of £3 from 6.00a.m to 8.00p.m. Monday to Friday
This will raise to £3.40 on week nights and £4.20 from 8.00pm
Friday until 6.00am Monday



In addition to the above, there will be an additional charge of 20p for every 224 yards (204 metres) or for every 73 seconds that the taxi is stationary

Also - and I'm being serious - there will be additional charges for passengers in groups of more than four.

Not all taxis currently have meters but they will have to be fitted as will receipts

The Consumer Council have said that the new proposals will bring clarity on taxi fares and they issued the followlng statement
"This will help reduce instances of overcharging for passengers and provide printed receipts which will assist passengers where they have a complaint regarding the level of fare charged".

"Charging above the maximum fare level indicated on the meter will be an offence, with offenders facing a fine of up to £1,000.00 under the current proposals".


DOE SECTION 75 EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY SCREENING ANALYSIS FORM

...main aims and objectives Title Taxi Fare And Taximeter Regulations Aims...Aims To introduce a maximum taxi fare tariff across Northern Ireland...legislation impact? Please specify All taxi drivers and owners All taxi users Centres manufacturing taximeters All...

Relevance: 72%

Last updated: 21 Nov 11

http://www.doeni.gov.uk/eqia_screening_ ... _fares.pdf

If it was decided to introduce that tariff over here nationwide how many would benefit and how many would loose