Taxi Driver Online

Taxi drivers in Crawley could soon get points on cab licence for overcharging or prolonging journeys




TAXI drivers in Crawley could soon rack up penalty points and face losing their licence if they unreasonably prolong a journey or refuse to take a passenger.

Crawley Borough Council's licensing committee will decide whether to launch a consultation on plans to introduce a penalty point scheme and code of conduct for hackney carriage and private hire drivers.

Drivers could be penalised for 47 different offences including carrying more passengers than allowed, refusing a fare without reason and prolonging journeys or incorrectly charging someone.

Long-term drivers have reacted with surprise at not being made aware of the proposals but have backed the council's intent to make the trade "more professional".

Derek Kiernan, who has 19 years experience working in Crawley, said: "I'm fully behind anything that makes the trade better for the customer, because without them we don't exist.

"Anything that improves the professionalism of the drivers has to be welcomed. I would never cut a corner. If there is a problem with my vehicle or if I am ill I don't go to work because it isn't fair on the public.

"A lot of what the council is suggesting is part of the remit of the job as it is, such as helping a passenger with their luggage. If a driver doesn't have the correct certification or hasn't renewed their insurance, then the council should come down on them like a ton of bricks.

"As drivers it is our responsibility to make sure our vehicles and our ability to drive is 100 per cent."

Crawley Borough Council's licensing office has received "many complaints from hackney carriage drivers regarding the conduct of other drivers whilst on taxi ranks in recent months".

Mr Kiernan added that he believes the current biggest problem in the taxi industry in Crawley is that vehicles are operating in the town when they are not licensed to do so.

Mawaz Khan, a licensed operator who has traded under the name United Cars since August 2015, was fined £1,500 in court last month after pleading guilty to ten offences.

Bob Lawrence, who has been a hackney carriage and private hire driver in Crawley for 40 years, believes the number of drivers willing to take disabled passengers is another issue.

Mr Lawrence said: "My biggest bug bear is the number of drivers with wheelchair enabled vehicles that refuse to take people in wheelchairs. It is something I always do because I would like to think that if I was in that position that someone would help me.
"I see so many drivers who claim their ramp isn't working and ask a disabled passenger to wait for the next vehicle. I really don't agree with it and I think it happens a lot because the driver isn't confident they could securely fix the wheelchair in place. So education is the issue."

A list of 47 offences and breaches – each with a different maximum number of penalty points – has been drawn up.
Others include carrying any article which could be considered as an offensive weapon and failing to assist in loading or unloading a passenger's luggage.

Drivers caught waiting or stopping on double yellow lines, at bus stops, private land or double parking – unless requested by a paying customer – will also be investigated.

If a driver gets 12 or more penalty points in a 12-month period, or 20 plus in 18 months, they will be referred to the council's environmental health manager.

They will then decide whether to issue a warning or revoke the licence. Drivers will get the chance to appeal being penalised, but this could lead to them being given even more points if unsuccessful.

A separate code of conduct has also been prepared which will require drivers to keep the volume of music in the vehicle to a minimum.

Drivers will be banned from sounding the vehicle's horn illegally between 11.30pm and 7am, not allowed to eat in the presence of a customer and must pay attention to personal hygiene and dress.

The council's licensing committee is meeting on Monday, June 13 to decide whether to start a 90-day consultation on the proposals.


Read more: http://www.crawleynews.co.uk/Taxi-drive ... z4Ahq7JXgf

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

Crawley licensing officers should get themselves out and about to enforce the law as it stands,what is proposed is snoop on your fellow licensed person and we will react in possibly removing their license,which saves us from having to enforce the LAW which is what we are paid to do out of your license fees.

Those breaches have only been law for 169 years.

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IDFIMH

And that couldn't happen without the points system?

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IDFIMH

It is the punishment that changes with a points system.

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Grandad,

well, sooner or later we will be expected to crawl on our knees, get them to climb on our back so we can take them to the car, give them a cuppa , tea/coffee/foot massage to go around the corner for £3.50, then get them on our backs again & take them to the shop, fook em me like, i hate the general public & suck up to no one, they want a taxi from A to B without crawling ?, well im your man, you want me to crawl up your hoop, disabled /with a dog , or just a normal punter, makes no difference to me , well im out, never happen in a million years, i would rather be on the dole tbh

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IDFIMH

excellent retort why do you open my posts you boring tit?

Points systems in operation are grossly unfair they punish the honest and let the dodgy ones get away with it because enforcement is always done from the office never out on the streets looking for rule breakers

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

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