17 Mar 2008
Test of character for foreign taxi drivers
FOREIGN drivers who want to become cabbies will have to produce a
document proving their good character.
The new rule for drivers who have not lived in the UK for five years is one
several changes agreed by Hartlepool Borough Council concerning an
outdated policy governing the town's cabs.
Licensing councillors agreed the move as Criminal Records Bureau checks
will not reveal any convictions in the UK if drive have not lived here for
five years.
Ian Harrison, principal licensing officer, said: "We have only had two cases
in Hartlepool, with a Hungarian and a Polish driver.
"The steps we are proposing are very much in line with other authorities
that have had this problem for much longer than us."
In such cases, the council will approach the embassy of the driver's home
country asking them to provide a certificate of good conduct.
Other changes to the council's policy, which became outdated last
September, include a new £1.50 tariff on journeys of more than four
people in the larger hackney cabs that have wheelchair access.
The council agreed the charge after hearing wheelchair-adapted vehicles
are more expensive to run. But it received a mixed response from cabbies.
Ian Crawley of 35 Taxis said: "Those drivers who purchase cars earn the
same on the current tariffs as those who have paid a great deal extra to
accommodate wheelchair users.
"The process of picking up and dropping off wheelchair users incurs a
great deal of extra time and effort by the driver, leaving them unavailable
for longer periods resulting in loss of potential earnings."
But Steve Wright, chairman of Hartlepool Independent Taxi Drivers
Association, said: "If you have five people in one vehicle and they pay just
£1.50 extra it takes away the work of two other drivers."
A clause saying all cabs must have four doors is to be ditched to allow any
environmentally-friendly Smart cars to get a licence.
Taxis will also only be required to pass two inspection tests a year, one of
which may be an MOT carried out at the council's depot.
Currently they have to pass two as well as an MOT test.
Source: Hartlepool Today
Related TDO Topic(s): Wycombe Immigrant Drivers Convictions To Be Checked Abroad
----------
Disclaimer
These press articles are intended for informational purposes only.
Statements and opinions expressed in these articles are solely those of the original Publisher.
I cannot guarantee the accuracy of any of these articles, and therefore I am not liable for any information contained therein.
Where possible, the Publisher and the source are documented within each article.
Any author that holds legal copyright, and objects to their material being posted, may request that it be removed and any future material excluded.
Login
Register
FAQ
