Taxi Driver Online

licensing regulations our local council issue regulations as do other councils are they obligated to uphold such regulations and in force them and if they don,t are they in breach of their own regulations . ? Examples hand book refers to all meters should be calendar controlled my meter has been set to time of day and day of week i can not alter that all i do is switch it on press go yet we have a number of taxi that select what ever tariff they want at anytime of day and we have two tier tariffs one for saloon cars another for people carrying wav vehicles so as to select higher rates for more people ? all vehicles over 3 years old tested every six months never checked or enforced is this a breach of their regulations

Council officers have a legal duty to enforce any by-law/condition of license that has been passed by the council.

If you have concerns that that isn't happening complain to the Chief Executive of the council.

_________________
IDFIMH

"In response to your letter regarding over-ranking and the formation of illegal ranks throughout the town it is something we are aware of. However we are aware of the problems regarding rank space faced by hackney vehicles and as such tend to turn a blind eye to such issues unless they become a concern for public safety. We do not currently see the issue as a problem and is therefore not a priority for the enforcement team at this moment in time."

That is an ACTUAL extract from a reply I got to a letter to my LA. Following that I queried that they have a duty to enforce the laws but they said they have 'discretion', so I asked them if they would use discretion if a PH started parking on ranks or picking up off the streets and could I have a list of the taxi byelaws they would turn a blind eye to - still waiting.

It is the civic duty of all licensing enforcement officers to exercise due discretion and take the appropriate action when it is reasonable, necessary and in the public interest to do so.

That said, plying for hire without a [HC] licence is a criminal offence that also invalidates insurance so it is always reasonable, necessary and in the public interest to take enforcement action in this instance.

_________________
Steve.

Hi i am sorry i wrote this topic but when you pick up regular customers that have been overcharged by other taxi,s by quite a bit they have jumped in a taxi on normal day normal hours and been charged between £5 to £10 more for the same metered journey something is wrong i feel its quite damaging to the trade and the good name of the service we as taxi drivers try to supply . the licensing department issue regulations of calendar Control meters to protect the public i have since contacted department they said we will look into it ?

I don't know why you are sorry, as no-one else is.

_________________
IDFIMH

Why dont you get the customers that have been overcharged to complain to the council, then if still nothing is done you can really have a go at the chef exec of the council.