Taxi Driver Online

July 25th 2007

TDO.

Headline: North Lincoln Cabbies Contemplating Blacklist.

North Lincolnshire Taxi and private hire association who are an affiliate of the NPHA are to meet shortly to discuss the legalities of blacklisting passengers who have a track record of troublemaking. These would no doubt include passengers who are known as non payers and those that have subjected drivers to aggression and abuse.

No decision has yet been made on whether or not to introduce such a system of blacklisting or how such a system might work but one solution could involve the introduction of a central network or database, which would no doubt have to be compliant with the 1998 DPA.

Mrs Devlyn Pugh Secretary of the NLTPA told Taxi Driver Online that the idea is still in its infancy stage and any decision on the blacklist proposals will be made after the NLTPA has consulted the NPHA about the legality of the situation and in particular with respect to plying for hire at Taxi ranks.

The law on refusing passengers at taxi ranks is quite clear and each individual case will no doubt centre on the particular circumstances that exist at the time of refusal. The central point of the law as all subscribers to Taxi Driver Online will know is “reasonable excuse.” What amounts to a reasonable excuse to me might not amount to a reasonable excuse to the Taxi licensing officer. The ultimate test is eventually through the courts and as I have explained each case will no doubt stand or fall on its merits. However, I like the idea that hackney carriage and private hire drivers are contemplating such a move and I am sure we all wish them well.

It is not known if North Lincolnshire council allow CCTV in licensed cabs, if they don’t, then it might be a good idea for the local association to explore that idea.

© TDO 2007

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