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| taxi drivers speak out as illegal practice continues http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=24959 |
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| Author: | captain cab [ Sat Aug 16, 2014 6:20 am ] |
| Post subject: | taxi drivers speak out as illegal practice continues |
Bristol taxi drivers speak out as illegal practice continues "THE most upsetting thing is that the drivers from outside of Bristol are damaging our reputations by over charging and having such limited knowledge of the city." Sat in front of me are three taxi drivers who have asked to meet to discuss the continuing issue of private hire cabs from as far a field as Sheffield abusing the system to operate illegally in Bristol, as the Post reported last month. One of their fears is that any private-hire cab that picks up passengers from the street without a booking is putting themselves and the passengers at risk. As well as this, they are taking up to £100 a night on weekends from legal "Hackney carriage" and Bristol-based private hire drivers, abusing them if they are confronted about the illegal practice, and are smearing both reputations, the men claim. None would give their name, not because they didn't believe in their convictions, but because they feared the council may revoke their taxi licence for daring to speak out. One said: "It puts passengers at risk. They don't know by looking at a cab if they are from Bristol, but unless they have ordered it they are not insured against anything and often they are over-charged because they don't use a taxi meter. "For instance, a couple of lads were dropped into Bristol by a cab and he charged them £55, which should have been between £35 and £38 – it's a shameful rip off and who gets blamed? Us, that's who. If they had been in our cab they would pay what it says on the meter – simple as that." One added: "All we ask is the council listen to our concerns and properly monitor the situation, especially in specific areas, because as soon as they know it is being regulated they will disappear. "We see them sitting in the queues in front of us at nightclubs, knowing they are breaking the law and putting passengers at risk but have to bite our lips because they just abuse us." The third concerned driver said: "As a private hire they cannot pick up a fare unless it is booked, but they are abusing the system and taking the fares every weekend. Most of us are losing £100 a night on the weekend. "If Bristol City Council are so concerned about the safety of the city's residents, why are they not clamping down on cabs picking up people when they are not insured? It's such a simple thing and I know if they did it they would disappear." A spokeswoman for Bristol City Council, said:“Currently national taxi licensing regulations allow licensed hackney carriages to operate as a private hire vehicle in another authority. This means it must be pre-booked like any other private hire vehicle. The ability of a hackney carriage to operate as a private hire in another authorities area is however, limited in that the majority of its work should be undertaken in the area in which it was licensed. Only locally licensed hackney carriages can be hailed on the street or operate from taxi ranks in Bristol. "The city council uses a variety of enforcement techniques including spot checks and test purchasing operations, particularly on busy weekend nights. These are to ensure hackney carriages and private hire vehicles are operating legally. In common will all local authorities across the country our enforcement role can only go so far as reporting these incidents to the licensing authority responsible for issuing the licence. They alone have the power to revoke a licence. In some situations e.g. illegally plying for hire, the authority will take robust action which may include prosecuting offenders.” Read more: http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Taxi-drive ... z3AWsrmQGL |
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