Taxi Driver Online

Bid to relax taxi experience rules rejected amid 'boy racer' fears

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/ ... -39-fears/

EFFORTS to relax rules on how much experience cab drivers need to get a licence in Stockton have been rejected to keep “boy racers” away.

Stockton Council requires motorists to hold a full driving licence for at least three years to become a private hire driver – or ply for hire in a Hackney Carriage.

But councillors were asked to consider reducing this to 12 months at Stockton Town Hall on Tuesday morning after concerns from four Teesside firms about a lack of drivers coming through.

Other authorities in the Tees Valley only require drivers to hold a licence for a year to drive a cab. Stockton is more stringent.

Cllr Norma Stephenson, member for Hardwick and Salters Lane, wanted to see the rules relaxed – with fears drivers were opting to get cheaper licences from other councils like Wolverhampton. She added: “We’re the only council which does this and I think it’s part of the reason people are going to places like Wolverhampton (Council) to get a licence. Looking at the background, we’ve got enough security there to deal with boy racers.

“It’s not as simple as saying if you’ve had a licence for a year, you can drive a car – there is more to it than that.

"But if we don’t want to do ourselves out of trade, we cannot continue to make ourselves the most difficult place to get it.

"I don’t think there’d be many boy racers applying to be a taxi driver – if they’ve been driving for a year and have no convictions, I think we should give them a chance.”

StationCars, Skyline, Teesside Cars Ltd and Tees Valley Cabs Ltd lodged the request for the three year edict to be eased. Their letter stated it was causing problems in recruiting new drivers – and was a reason why operators were getting their licences elsewhere.

It added: “Making entry into the taxi trade easier will not only help relieve the financial pressures on operators but will also encourage them to obtain licences from Stockton.”

Former policeman Cllr Ken Dixon disagreed with the move. “Experience of driving comes with driving,” he said. "They don’t take the test on a night-time – they don’t park properly and you need to know the etiquette of the road and the Highway Code. Three years is adequate.”

The chamber heard data hadn’t been collected to gauge whether the one-year policy had any impact on accidents or the number of licences revoked elsewhere in the Tees Valley. The council set the three year rule in 2014.

So the law is quite clear on this matter.

51 Licensing of drivers of private hire vehicles (1) Subject to the provisions of this
Part of this Act, a district council shall, on the receipt of an application from any
person for the grant to that person of a licence to drive private hire vehicles, grant to
that person a driver's licence:
Provided that a district council shall not grant a licence—
(a) unless they are satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to
hold a driver's licence; or
[(b) to any person who has not for at least twelve months been authorised
to drive a motor car, or is not at the date of the application for a
driver's licence so authorised]

59 Qualifications for drivers of hackney carriages (1) Notwithstanding anything in
the Act of 1847, a district council shall not grant a licence to drive a hackney
carriage—
(a) unless they are satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to
hold a driver's licence; or
[(b) to any person who has not for at least twelve months been authorised
to drive a motor car, or is not at the date of the application for a driver's
licence so authorised]

But clearly not clear enough for the legal department of Stockton Council.

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IDFIMH

Surely the Act as worded allows the Council to use its discretion in determining fit and proper person.

It says "At least 12 months" so has the council get discretion to increase this to 3 years? however by saying 3 years are they not making a blanket policy and not assessing each application on it's merits? What if someone in their early 30s, married with 2 kids and a mortgage but passed their test 12 months ago? Under this policy they would be excluded but they are highly unlikely to be a "boy racer"

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Grandad,

I have seen a few drivers of non uk origin who can barely drive and frightens the customers I think this is a good rule not being funny but at 12 months since passing your test were you that safe a driver ?

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

The 'at least' doesn't relate to a discretion parliament has given councils, but to the length of time the applicant has held a full DVLA (or EU equivalent) drivers license.

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IDFIMH

The 12 months rule is primary legislation, the determining of fit and proper is secondary legislation via bylaws.

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IDFIMH

Council's U-turn over experience needed by taxi drivers after plea from firms

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/tees ... e-17135809

Stockton Council has agreed to bring its rules into line with others on Teesside

The level of experience required from taxi drivers in Stockton is set to be cut after impassioned pleas from the trade led to a council U-turn.

A Stockton Council panel agreed in August to keep its three-year minimum for drivers wanting to get a pass to drive a cab.

But the authority’s licensing committee rowed back on Tuesday - agreeing drivers only had to have a licence for one year in line with neighbouring councils.

Drivers from four firms: Tees Valley Cars, Station Taxis, Skyline and Teesside Cars all said they wanted a 12-month minimum as they were struggling to recruit.

They also said it was why operators were getting licences from other councils.

No other authority in the Tees Valley requires drivers to hold a licence for three years.

Councillors originally agreed to stick to the three-year rule in August after a 6 to 5 vote.

But they had another look at the proposals after renewed arguments from the trade.

Mohammed Zaroof, from Tees Valley Cabs, said his firm had lost 18 drivers who didn’t have enough experience and wanted a “level playing field”.

And Naseer Ahmed, from Teesside Cars, said that a driver still had to go through the Tees Valley assessment to ensure they were up to standard.

He added: “Everyone else is doing a year - we have got to get drivers back on board with Stockton Council, rather than cars coming into our area and picking up.

“Otherwise we’re going to have to get Middlesbrough or Wolverhampton operating licences and we’ll have to find loopholes to avoid it - we want to try and avoid that and it’s why people are going elsewhere.”

Cllr Clare Gamble said she agreed with the arguments given the existing tests.

She added: “I think we’re shooting ourselves in the foot by having a more stringent policy and putting ourselves in a position where we cannot ensure the safety of our residents.”

Cllr Evaline [edited by admin] said the council needed to “move with the times”. She added: “We need to have control over taxi drivers and this way at least we have some control - if it’s outside area, we’ve got nothing.”

The panel agreed to recommend the one-year minimum.

The changes to the licensing policy will go before cabinet members and full council in the coming months.

Making entry easier for new drivers will relieve the financial pressures on *operators*, but will do what to the plebs already driving?


Which has what to do with the change? If he's lost drivers because they didn't have enough experience, then how will allowing *less* experienced drivers into the trade help?

Think what he means is that he needs a constant supply of new drivers to replace the ones who quickly realise it's not the bed of roses they thought it would be

Crawley BC vs Crabb

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

You mean in line with the rest of the country, and of course the law of the land.

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IDFIMH