Taxi Driver Online

Suffolk Free Press

November 15, 2007

Check your taxi is fully licensed

Christmas and New Year party-goers are being urged to ensure their peace of mind by only using licensed taxi or private hire firms for their journeys home.

Babergh Council says information as to whether a driver, vehicle or operator is licensed can be found on its website, where a constantly-updated register is maintained by staff.

The register includes licence details of all taxi and private hire vehicles, drivers and operators who are licensed across the district.

Each driver's name and licence number is listed, together with when the licence was issued, the valid-from and expiry dates.

For hackney carriage and private hire vehicles, the registration number, make, model and maximum number of passengers of each vehicle is also included.

Babergh is promoting this advice via posters and leaflets which are due to be distributed throughout the district.

Lee Carvell, principal licensing officer at Babergh, said: "Updates to the online register are made in real time - so whenever we make a change the website is instantly updated.

"We would encourage everyone to plan ahead and organise their transport before they leave home, to help ensure a happy and safe festive season."

He added that having ordered a licensed vehicle, revellers should always check to make sure the car and driver that picks them up is the one they ordered.

"A licensed vehicle will display a Babergh-issued licence plate both inside and outside of the vehicle and a Babergh licensed driver must wear an identity badge at all times while on duty - and the number should be the same as the one referenced on the online register."

To find out more, visit the council's website at www.babergh.gov.uk.
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Does the Data Protection Act not apply in Babergh?

I wonder when the LOs are going to put their details on the net for all to see.

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IDFIMH

Hmmmm I bet the local tax office is having a field day

So is it the Freedom of Information Act, or the Data Protection Act that applies?

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Former taxi driver

Our council have all the details of driver badges and vehicles on their website. It comes under public registers.

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Grandad,

And the sections in the acts that allow that pre-date the DPA.

But it begs the question as to why a council would want to put our details up on the net. Who benefits?

Certainly not punters, as they can simply check with the council at any time by the phone.

Methinks it just a case of civil servants trying to be clever, giving it the big 'I AM'.

When in fact all they are is clueless bunch of pillocks.

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IDFIMH

If someone rang up your council and asked under the FoI Act what plate number Mr Jimbo drives, under the DPA they shouldn't give out any personal details.

Unless of course your council don't know the law of the land. Which generally means most of them.

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IDFIMH

All the information about drivers etc are on the Glasgow Council website including meetings of minutes and badge/plate applications.

regards

See this is a classic example of why councils don't know best.

Half of councils when reviewing folks licenses do it in camera (private), whilst the other half open it up to the world.

Same with the minutes of such meetings, many exempt them from being published, whilst many allow access to the info to all and sundry.

It's got to stop, private info is private info, and has no place being published on a council website.

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IDFIMH