December 21, 2007 Friday
Taxi regulations
Stourbridge News
DUDLEY Council is urging members of the public to be aware of taxi regulations to ensure they travel safely during the festive season.
The licensing department regulates all taxis licensed by Dudley Council, checking them for roadworthiness to ensure passenger safety, and bosses have issued a list of charges to be expected for hackney carriages and private hire vehicles.
Hackney carriages:
All Hackney carriages in Dudley which are picking up and dropping off within the borough must use their meter.
If the journey is outside the borough the meter must also be used but the fee can be negotiated.
Members of the public will see that before 11pm the meter will show an initial reading of £1.50 and after 11pm the meter will show a charge of £2.
Extra charges
a) Between 6pm on 24 December and 6am on 27 December - double the above charge.
b) Between 6pm on 31 December and 12 midnight on 1 January - double the above charge.
c) On a Sunday or bank holiday, except a) and b) mentioned above - 50p.
d) After 11pm or before 6am on any other day than mentioned in a) to c) - 50p.
Private hire:
All private hire vehicles in the Dudley borough are white and must display a roof sign and vehicle plate.
Fares must be pre-booked prior to the journey, ("Not according to Manchester councillors") as journeys that are not pre-booked are not covered by insurance.
It is important to negotiate the fare before travelling in the vehicle.
Councillor Doreen Ameson, chair of the taxis committee, said: "We are dedicated to making the services provided by Dudley taxi companies which are licensed with us as safe possible.
"We encourage members of the public to take care over the festive season, enjoy themselves responsibly and travel safely."
Queries regarding private hire or Hackney carriages should go to the taxi licence enforcement officers on 01384 815404.
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And here we have kirklees giving out the same message.
Batley Today
December 20, 2007
Warning over unlicensed taxis
REVELLERS over the Christmas and New Year period have been warned to make sure they are getting into properly licensed taxis or private hire cars before taking their journey.
The annual Travel Safe Tonight campaign has been launched by the council, police and community safety partners.
Posters will be displayed in clubs, pubs and council buildings stressing the need for taxi customers to make sure they use a licensed taxi or pre-book a private hire vehicle. Coun Christine Iredale, chairwoman of the licensing committee, said: "People need to take extra care against using unlicensed taxis. Many thousands of people will be using them, so they need to make sure for their own safety the car they get into is properly licensed."
There are two types of taxis in Kirklees - the public Hackney Carriage that people can hail in the street, and private hire vehicles that have to be booked in advance. All licensed drivers should be wearing their identity badge.
"The working relationship we have with the taxi trade is excellent," said Coun Iredale. "Unlicensed taxis give them a bad name, as well as compromising passenger safety.
"They will not be insured to carry fare-paying passengers and the vehicle will not have been examined to check roadworthiness."
And she urged taxi passengers to recognise the valuable service provided by properly licensed vehicles and drivers.
"We want people to enjoy themselves and if they are out having a good time and travel in properly licensed taxis we would urge them to give their support and respect to taxi and private hire drivers," she said.
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And Just for good measure the Leicester RMT union members are jumping on the bandwagon and giving their interpretation of non licensed travel. The only problem with all these warnings is the fact that while the vehicle driver might not be insured for public hire or reward, the punters are most definately covered for third party injuries providing the vehicle has a valid private hire insurance policy.
Leicester Mercury
December 20, 2007 Thursday
Taxi drivers warn revellers of private hire risk
Taxi drivers are warning revellers about the risks of flagging down private hire cabs around Christmas and New Year.
The RMT union which represents Leicester's Hackney Carriage drivers is reminding people that private hire cabs are not insured to carry passengers unless they are booked in advance.
Spokesman Harbhajan Pamma says private drivers who pick up without a booking, a practice known as flimping, are putting passengers lives' in danger.
He said: "Private hire 'flimping' could easily lead to a young girl getting attacked or an accident where the passengers will not be insured.
"The RMT have also been working with the Leicestershire Constabulary and have provided number plates of normal cars posing as taxis.
"Taxi bosses request all punters to be vigilant when going home and wait with friends for a licensed cab."
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And Finally Burnley have their say about unlicensed drivers picking up passengers in the street.
I wonder who is right, those councills who say it is perfectly legal for private hire drivers to pick up passengers in the street without a booking or those that don't. One gets the feeling that some NALEO members have a distinct problem in understanding what is lawfull and what isn't?
Burnley Express
December 18, 2007
Taxi safety alert
CHRISTMAS and New Year revellers in Ribble Valley are being advised not to risk their safety by using unlicensed taxis or flagging down private hire vehicles.
Diane Rice, Ribble Valley Borough Council's legal services manager, said: "The names of licence holders, along with licence numbers, issue and expiry dates, and licence terms, are now contained on an e-Public Register on the council's website.
"Members of the public can use the facility to ensure vehicles are licensed - which means they will be safe, comfortable and roadworthy - and drivers have a reasonable knowledge of the area, are medically fit and free from serious convictions.
"The register also contains information about premises and alcohol licences, and the terms of those licences, such as conditions and hours."
The council's licensing team has issued tips to help taxi-users have a safe journey over the festive season:
"Yellow plate" private hire vehicles must be pre-booked. Only "blue plate" hackney carriages can be flagged down or hired from a rank. It is illegal for private hire vehicles to pick up passengers in the street.
? Check drivers are wearing identification badges that have not expired
? Check the identity of drivers against the photos on identification badges
? Check that cab licence plates at the rear of vehicles or on the left-hand side of windscreens are in date
? Don't give personal details to drivers
? Agree private hire fees in advance. Metred hackney cab fees are set by the council
The council's e-Public Register can be found in the Legal Services section at
www.ribblevalley.gov.uk
Anyone who suspects a driver of operating without a licence should contact the council's licensing team on 01200 414411.
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