Taxi Driver Online

Bucks Herald

July 19, 2007

A safer fare for everyone

PRIVATE hire and taxi drivers in Aylesbury who break the conditions of their licences risk legal action as part of a crackdown by the district council, we have learnt this morning.

Licensing officers from Aylesbury Vale District Council are operating in the town centre throughout the summer as part of a series of overt and covert operations to check that drivers are not putting passengers in danger.

The enforcement team is working until the early hours most weekends to check that taxis are clean and roadworthy, that drivers are properly licensed, and that they have the correct plates and door signs displayed. The team also aim to clamp down on drivers who ply for hire illegally by carrying out test purchases of taxi and private hire journeys.

In addition to making spot checks and test purchases, licensing officers will be on hand to direct revellers to taxi ranks in the town centre and offer advice to help ensure people have a safe journey home.

Any driver found not to be complying with the conditions of their licence, for example private hire drivers who pick up passengers who have not booked in advance, will risk being prosecuted and face the possibility of having their licence suspended, or even revoked.

A private hire driver was caught plying for hire in contravention of their licence during a recent covert operation and legal proceedings are now being considered.

Aylesbury Vale has more than 900 licensed taxi drivers, 89 private hire operators and 500 vehicles in use as private hire and hackney carriages.

Hackney carriages (known as taxis) and private hire vehicles (often referred to as mini-cabs) are licensed by the district council. Under the terms of the licence, only white-plated taxis can be hailed in the streets within Aylesbury's boundaries and sit on taxi ranks. Red-plated hackney carriages operate as taxis outside of Aylesbury but can only pick up passengers in the town if they have been pre-booked.

Private hire vehicles display a yellow license plate on the rear of the vehicle and must be pre-booked through a licensed operator. Passengers can put themselves at risk by flagging down private hire vehicles which have not been pre-booked as the vehicle's insurance cover will not be valid.

A Mix 96 radio advert has been specially commissioned to act as a wake-up call to anyone tempted to get in to a private hire vehicle without booking in advance. The advert, aired on the station throughout the day, reminds listeners to never hail an unbooked vehicle unless it is a white-plated hackney carriage.

Cllr Judy Brandis, Chairman of the Licensing Committee, said: "The presence of this enforcement team is good both for passengers and for licensed taxi drivers. The travelling public have a right to book a private hire vehicle or hail a taxi in the knowledge that it's safe, well-maintained and properly insured and that it's going to be driven by a driver who has been thoroughly vetted. Clamping down on drivers who ply for hire illegally will also allow legitimate taxi drivers to run their own high quality regulated service without unfair competition."
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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

So a cartel isn't unfair competition then?

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