Taxi Driver Online

RUDE and rule-breaking cabbies in Torbay are to face a blitz, councillors have warned.

Torbay Council licensing officer Steve Cox said: "We want to make it clear if their behaviour doesn't improve, we may bring them in front of the licensing committee."

Drivers could face fines or even be hauled before the authority with the threat of their licence to operate being suspended.

The warning came at Torbay Council's licensing committee after councillors complained about the attitude of some Hackney cab drivers.

Cabbies are accused of waiting in parking bays, dodging and abusing traffic wardens, double parking and being rude verging on aggressive.


However, the Bay's cab trade says it does not condone rudeness or aggressive behaviour.

But one councillor wants taxi rank spaces closed down as a punishment for offenders.

Mr Cox said taxi drivers and their companies have been written to and officers will be out gathering evidence.

He told councillors: "My officers will be out collecting information on abuses.

"There will be one hell of a stink from the trade you can be assured as they are struggling for work."

There are more than 160 Hackney cabs licensed in the Bay with 368 authorised drivers, as well as 338 private hire cars and 281 drivers.

Cllr Christine Scouler said she was concerned at cabbies using street parking bays in Preston, Paignton, to wait for trade rather than authorised ranks.

She said: "I would like to see some enforcement to make sure they are in line with their licences.

"Some of the drivers are rude, almost aggressive."

Cllr Alan Faulkner said some Torquay town centre ranks have particular problems with double parking and intrusion into bus bays.

He said: "We have written to them so many times we should take the taxi rank away from them."

Mr Cox said traffic enforcement was not part of licensing, although he knew of the difficulties as offending cabbies drove off as soon as they saw a warden take out his note book and so a ticket could not be issued.

He said: "Some drivers have been the subject of complaints and they have been written to and we will be talking to them."

He said he has told the trade those who flout the rules will get fixed penalties tickets but added new technology is needed to catch offenders and that costs money.

He added: "We will be writing to drivers and then evidence will be collected. I am not happy about it, but we will bring them in front of the licensing committee to have their licence suspended for traffic offences."

Committee chairman Peter Addis said it seemed there were not enough spaces on the taxi ranks or they are not in the right places but added: "Surely the technology exists to take photographs of them?"

David Green, chairman of the 75-strong Hackney Carriage Taxi Association, said: "We do not condone aggressive or rude behaviour towards any council officer."

He said no taxi driver waits in Preston and added: "It is not an area where we go as there is no trade.

"As an association we have a good working relationship with the council licensing department and are trying to solve the problems of taxi ranks."

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

i dont know how that happened . it was not cap .who posted the above post .it was myself.

Daft Idea..wont that just punish customers and Innocent taxi drivers alike?

Whos in charge in torbay..Basil Fawlty?

Welcome to the Twilight Zone!

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IDFIMH

May FFS.

Stop fannying around and do it.

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IDFIMH

Did people really vote for him?

Close a rank cos a few idiots are trying it on.

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IDFIMH

The traffic wardens failure to be sharp enough to be dishing out fines rather than the over ranking and double parking is what's probably made the council so miffed.