Taxi Driver Online

Three Derby private hire drivers fined


Three licensed Derby private hire drivers have admitted plying for hire and failing to comply with private hire rules.

All three were issued with fines of £100, issued with six penalty points, and are liable for court costs of £300.

They were also issued with fines ranging from £225 to £440 for driving without insurance.

The case follows a taxi licensing enforcement clampdown by Derby City Council’s licensing team.

On Saturday the team carried out a further enforcement exercise within the city centre to check if private hire drivers were complying with private hire rules.

Of the 12 licensed drivers approached none were prepared to take passengers without the journey being pre-booked.

Councillor Sean Marshall, chairman of the taxi licensing and appeals committee, said:

"This case should be a warning that it is unacceptable to flout the law and that the penalties will be severe when drivers are caught risking the safety of their passengers.

"This prosecution should also act as reminder to residents that for their own safety all private hire vehicles must be booked through an operator of a reputable taxi firm – and if you are enjoying a night out, remember to be safe, stay with your friends and always plan how you are getting home."

Private hire vehicles must be pre-booked which can be done by either telephone, email or by going to one of the private hire booking offices located around the city.

By agreeing to take passenger without pre-booking, private hire drivers are in breach of legislation and are not insured which poses a risk to any passengers travelling in the vehicle.

The council licences two different types of taxis. Private hire vehicles must be pre-booked while hackney carriages are yellow and are either found waiting at the various ranks around the city centre or they can be flagged down if they are free.

Whichever type of taxi is used, each one has to display a licence plate on the rear of the vehicle and every driver must be wearing a licence badge which contains their photograph.

http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Derby ... story.html

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

nice to see another ignorant reporter.

CC

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

You mean regarding the terminology?

To be fair to the newspaper, many councils still use the word 'taxi' generically to refer to both HC and PH.

http://www.leicester.gov.uk/your-counci ... ing/taxis/

http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/20009 ... nformation

This one also uses the dreaded 'private hire taxi':

http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?n ... 145%2C4080

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

That's my favourite.

_________________
IDFIMH

Here's another council using 'private hire taxi'.

And it also manages to use taxi when it means HC, and also uses taxi generically - 'taxi licensing policy', all in a few paragraphs.



http://www.salford.gov.uk/taxis.htm

I blame the cab trade.

CC

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