Taxi Driver Online

Five taxis banned from road in police and council sting operation

FOUR “dangerous” taxis were banned from Southampton’s roads in a joint sting by police and city licensing bosses. Another taxi, from outside the city, had rear tyres so worn down that officers could see metal through the rubber.

All five vehicles were taken off the road instantly during the joint operation on Tuesday night. Nine other taxi drivers, five of which were private hire, were also told to make urgent repairs to their cars.

City council licensing chief, Phil Bates, called the outcome “disappointing”.

It follows a sting in which police and city council licensing staff took up position and waited for passing taxis. Vehicles were stopped if they were spotted with “obvious defects” – such as broken lights.

Vehicles were then checked at the scene, before being sent to the city council’s approved testing station for further inspection. In total, 13 Southampton licensed vehicles were sent for testing, including nine hackney carriages and four private hire vehicles.

Alongside the four hackneys that were immediately taken off the road, two vehicles failed the inspection, but were given 48 hours to rectify the issues raised.

Two private hire vehicles and four hackneys were given a week to rectify “less pressing” issues. One private hire passed the inspection, but was given a week to rectify “advisory issues”.

A Transport For London licensed taxi also was stopped by police and found to have “significant safety issues” – including two rear tyres with metal exposed. Police served a notice to take the vehicle off the road.

Licensing manager at Southampton City Council, Phil Bates, said: “It is disappointing some of the vehicles needed to be taken off the road but this operation demonstrates the council will do all it can to ensure the safety of the public.”

Taxi driver and union representative Perry McMillan also said he was disappointed and urged fellow cabbies to “up their game”.

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Disproportionate ?

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You mean because *all* of them were sent to the testing station for inspection?

It doesn't specifically say so, but I suspect this was just a proportion of those stopped. Most were probably just given a clean bill of health.

After all, seems that all of those sent for testing had faults which meant either taken off the road or were given 48 hours or a week to rectify the faults or advisory items.