Taxi Driver Online

Concern over 'unscrupulous' out-of-town taxi drivers in Leeds

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/ ... -1-9110849

Private hire car passengers could be “at the mercy of unscrupulous, out-of-town” drivers plying for trade in Leeds, according to a councillor.

Coun Billy Flynn, a member of Leeds City Council’s Licensing Committee, has drafted a report about concerns regarding “cross-border hiring” – drivers who are permitted to operate by one local authority but go to work in other areas.

The Conservative Adel and Wharfedale representative said: “I have been approached by representatives of the trade expressing serious concern about the potential danger to the travelling public of Leeds who can be at the mercy of unscrupulous, out of town taxi and private hire drivers working in the city.

“Despite several approaches to the council asking for tighter enforcement action, they feel their concerns are not being adequately addressed.

“Although our own licensing standards are very high, this does not apply elsewhere.”

A Leeds City Council spokesman said: “Working closely with partners, we remain committed and have a robust enforcement approach in place to tackling those taxi and private hire drivers from outside Leeds who are picking up illegally. This includes the council’s enforcement team working closely with two specialised police officers to tackle specifically this problem”.

Prosecutions have already been brought against out of town drivers for plying for hire and other offences since the a 12-month pilot started in October 2017, he said.

Well done Law Commission. Again.



Usual PR blather from local authority - even manages to get the "working closely" cliché in twice.

The simple answer to standards is to have a standard set of standards as we have in the bus industry, then there's no bitching about out-of-town cars or drivers being worse than in-town cars and drivers.

Yes, and to be fair to the Law Commission, I think a common standard was what they wanted, although at the most basic possible level.

But that obviously hasn't happened, and even if it had it would all still be very messy.

Even if the Law Commission had had its way, there will *always* be bitching about out-of-town cars, and that kind of thing.

I mean, go to a taxi rank that you don't normally sit on and you'll feel unwelcome, even if it's just a couple of hundred yards from your regular haunt

precisely

we have national MOT standards so why not national compliance standards
A Nationally agreed code of conduct
National enforcement standards through a nationally agreed set of terms & conditions for licenses

it would not be that difficult surely apart from a few councils having bruised egos

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

The problem is not so much about having National standards but is about the enforcement of Regulations and self set Council standards,most Councils do not enforce their own standards and do not enforce the Act of Parliament regarding licenses.The will to carry out effective enforcement is sorely lacking at most Councils and most believe enforcement can be carried out from within an office between the hours of 9 to 5 Monday to Friday excluding all Bank Holidays and Saturdays and Sundays.National standards would not change the mindset of these Councils and their enforcement Officers.

I'm more than happy with local conditions.

The issue isn't with national standards, it's with some councils having sh** standards and drawing in the dross from all over, licensing them, and then never seeing them again.

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IDFIMH