Taxi Driver Online

App-based Private Hire Company fined



Transport for London (TfL) has taken enforcement activity against an app-based minicab company that was operating illegally without a private hire licence.

It has successfully prosecuted Splyt Technologies Ltd for breaching the requirement for a London private hire operator’s licence.

Splyt, which offered private hire journeys through an app, launched their service in April this year without an operator’s licence. TfL believed this to be in breach of legislation and Splyt ceased their operation following correspondence. Earlier this week, Splyt pleaded guilty to the charge.

Splyt were fined £1,750 at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, as well as being ordered to pay TfL’s claimed costs in full, a further £5,217.50.

The District Judge remarked that it had been a complex case, and that there had been extensive correspondence between TfL and Splyt to try to resolve the matter.

Garrett Emmerson, TfL’s Chief Operating Officer for Surface Transport, said: “This is a very positive result, and one that shows our commitment to tackling illegality in the private hire trade in order to protect the rights of the legitimate private hire and taxi trades in London.

“We will continue to bear down on illegal activity of this kind, and as this result shows we will take action through the courts if necessary.”

Another aspect of the work being undertaken with private hire is the current consultation into the regulations governing the trade. The wide-ranging proposals seek to bring up to date the regulations governing London’s private hire sector to ensure they take into account recent developments in technology and are fit for the future.

TfL wants to hear the views of passengers, members of both trades and all other interested parties on the proposals, so that the regulations can be shaped in a way that benefits both drivers and passengers.

The number of private hire drivers in the Capital has risen rapidly in recent years – there are now 92,049 licenced private hire drivers, up from 76,249 in March 2015. This rapid growth has given rise to a number of wider issues, including rising traffic congestion, illegal parking and impacts on air quality. This is why the Mayor is calling for the Government to bring forward primary legislation to give TfL the power to cap minicab numbers.

source: http://www.thechauffeur.com/app-based-p ... any-fined/

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

They are going to ask a government that believes in free market economics to bring in market restrictions

Far simpler to limit the numbers in other ways by making it very expensive or difficult for new entrants to the trade perhaps by making them sit an English test or insisting new entrants to the trade have euro 6 vehicles

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

It's actually quite an interesting case.

As far as I'm aware this is the first challenge that's reached the courts in respect of an app needing an ops license.

There are many work feeder (non app) websites about that offer work to drivers etc, and I'm not sure if they differ from an app.

But they aren't licensed.

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IDFIMH

Also must have held a full UK drivers licence for 5 years

This was a Cab4now venture.

Perhaps he'll come back on here to explain.......