Taxi Driver Online

Taxis in Bournemouth win CCTV parking exemptions

Taxis drivers in Bournemouth have won a battle with the council to be allowed to drop off and pick up customers at bus stops without being fined.

United Taxis fought for the exemption after new mobile cameras started to catch drivers who said they often had limited places to drop off customers.

It was revealed more than 1,300 fines were issued for parking near schools and at bus stops since patrols began.

This compared to 122 in the same time before use started in June 2009.

But taxis will still face fines for parking outside schools although a number of sites are in discussions with drivers to arrange appropriate places to stop.

£70 fine

Derek Heritage, from United Taxis, has been speaking to council officials for months to work out a compromise.

He said: "It's a pity it has taken so long for the council to sort this out but we are happy our drivers can now stop without being fined.

"I will be the first one to say a driver should be fined if they are parking for 10 minutes in a bus stop but it has been widely regarded that we can drop off quickly and now the council has realised this."

He said drivers take many elderly customers out where the only legal parking space may be a long way from their destination or home.

Councillor Robert Lawton, member for environment and transport, said: "We have worked in partnership with representatives of the taxi trade to come to an initial set of agreements.

"We will be continuing our discussions with the taxi trade to... effectively produce a code of conduct that will be binding on both parties."

If caught, motorists face a £70 fine, reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days.

source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/8568173.stm

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