Tinted glass taxi row sparks warning drivers could abandon the industryhttps://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/tees ... s-16830934Taxi drivers were facing hefty bills to meet rules which said they could not have tinted rear passenger windowsA move to allow tinted back windows in Stockton cabs has been backed to save drivers from forking out thousands of pounds.
Vehicles produced in the past few years tend to have less transparent glass - but Stockton Council taxi rules dictate back passenger panes must allow 70% of light through so customers can be seen from the outside.
This clash sparked a request from Tahir Ali, chairman of the Stockton Hackney Carriage Driver Association (SHCDA) , for the regulation to be relaxed as drivers are finding it nigh on impossible to find or buy clear replacement windows.
Members of the council’s licensing committee were told how authority officers had tried in vain to help drivers source less tinted glass from manufacturers.
Council solicitor Jonathan Nertney said: “This is an example where the policy is having a restrictive effect on the trade.
“They are buying a new car which has tinted windows - and we’re saying it can’t be licensed because the tint level doesn’t comply with the policy.
“They have to go away to put windows in to comply and they can’t - it’s having an unjustifiable impact.”
From the start of next year, an age restriction will come into force for all private hire and hackney carriage saloon vehicles.
It will mean applications will only be considered if vehicles are less than five-years-old from the date they’re first registered as cabs - or less than 12-years-old.
This demand for newer cars has put firms and drivers in a tight spot - with Tuesday’s meeting told it was costing drivers thousands of pounds to find less tinted windows.
Councillors were asked to relax the rules and allow 30% of light to travel through back passenger windows.
Cllr Norma Stephenson backed the move.
She said: “We can’t have it all. We’ve put restrictions on the condition of vehicles - and if people are going to scrapyards for windows, these vehicles are in scrapyards for a reason.
“They’ve probably been on a car that’s had an accident - and the way we’re going, we’re going to struggle to get taxi drivers in Stockton.
“For that ratio of light, I think we should let them have it.”
The law states front windscreens must allow at least 75% of light through.
Cllr Evaline [edited by admin] wanted the council’s taxi policy on rear passenger windows to be made clear.
She said: “Saying 30% (of light) doesn’t really mean anything if you can’t see the person.
“I don’t like the idea of young children and vulnerable adults who cannot be seen travelling in the back of a car.”
However, officers said the rules would state passengers must be visible.
Councillors unanimously agreed to a relaxation of the regulations.
A full council meeting will decide whether to back the panel’s recommendations later this year.
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