A Bradford private hire driver has claimed he is struggling to make ends meet as he waits for the Council to issue a new licence plate for his vehicle.
According to the Telegraph and Argus, Bradford Council, however, has said there has been an "upsurge" in taxi licence applications, of which it carries out over 4,000 in a year.
Tahir Zeb recently bought a 2019 vehicle which was due for inspection by the council.
“It's been four weeks and I'm still waiting to get a licence plate for my vehicle," explained Mr Zeb. "I've fallen behind on my gas and electric bills because I've no other income coming in.
"The council is saying it's a backlog but I don't understand how they got this backlog.
"The council do an inspection which is like an MoT. My car has now had a 12-month MoT. Why do we have to bring our car in again when it's already had a full inspection?
"They're doing an extra check as a normal MoT is not good enough. If an MoT is good enough for families, why isn't it good enough for customers?"
A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “Local authorities that issue private hire and taxi vehicle licences have an obligation to ensure the vehicle is safe, suitable in type, size and design for use as a private hire or taxi vehicle, in a suitable mechanical condition and comfortable.
“Taxi tests therefore cover elements that are not covered in the MoT test, to ensure that the vehicles we license meet these requirements the council inspects all vehicles that are submitted for use in the taxi trade before a licence is issued and annually thereafter.
“During the Covid pandemic, the Licensing Service saw a significant decline in the number of licensing applications and renewals that were received.
“Many drivers left the taxi trade to seek other means of income resulting in a surplus of vehicle tests being freed up during the pandemic.
“The customer demand for taxi services has inevitably increased as things continue to return to normal. This has resulted in a sudden upsurge in applications for driver and vehicle licences.
“The Licensing Service has to accommodate in excess of 4,000 vehicle inspections for taxi vehicle applications every year.
“There are a set number of tests allocated daily to meet this demand and the Licensing Service is aware of the increasing demand.
“Recently we have facilitated additional tests to accommodate the demand, with tests being completed on evenings and weekends.
“The Service is reviewing long-term solutions for additional vehicle tests and vehicle proprietors are being made aware of the potential wait for a vehicle test.
“The Service sends vehicle proprietors a renewal link six weeks before a licence expires to allow for applications to be submitted in good time, so the vehicle can be tested before the licence expires.”
Safety checks on taxis and PHVs which carry passengers in Morecambe and Lancaster have been found with problems including badly-worn tyres which break the law and empty fire extinguishers.
LancsLive reports that more than 80 hackney and private hire vehicles were checked in one single day by Lancaster City Council licensing officers and the DVSA, working with local taxi firms.
Cabbies were told on the day to attend a car park at Morecambe Town Hall. But a DVSA officer said he noticed a ‘significant number’ of taxis arriving with new tyres as the day rolled-on.
A report to Lancaster City Council’s Licensing Committee summarises the safety checks.
The licensing report states: “In total, 83 vehicle inspections were carried out on the day. Thirty hackney carriages and 53 private hire vehicles were checked.
Licensing staff issued 11 defect notices and three suspension notices. The DVSA [which focused on mechanical issues] issued three prohibition notices.
“The majority of defects were in relation to the poor condition of door signs, expired fire extinguishers and damage to vehicle body work.
"A handful of vehicles were suspended due to more serious defects including illegal tyres."
At the time of writing the report of the 11 defect notices issued, three defects were outstanding and all suspensions have been lifted.
An extra report from Tony Wilson, a DVSA inspector, states: “The first two taxis inspected were issued with immediate prohibition notices. One had a tyre below the legal limit and the other had two illegal front tyres.
"A third taxi was issued with an immediate prohibition notice for an indicator not working.
"It was beneficial in only letting the taxi operators know that we were holding a check on the day. However, as the day went on, I did notice a significant number of taxis coming in that had had new tyres fitted.
“The lack of police presence probably had a negative effect, as they can often pick up those reluctant to be inspected.”
Comments from the local taxi trade about the checks are included too. Leon Harpley, Steve Parker and Collin Pye, described as vehicle proprietors, have given generally positive feedback.
In future, remaining unchecked hackney and private hire vehicles will be checked and private hire business operators are to have their records checked.
Source: https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/lancaster-taxi-crackdown-illegal-tyres-27071805
Cllr Mohammed Iqbal said: "Myself and Cllr Paul Wray welcome the news that while the full Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Condition Policy review is completed – which will take some time, sensible temporary changes will be implemented in the coming days as a stopgap measure to support the trade.
Both of us have both long lobbied internally for these changes with fellow Labour Councillors and argued that the reality of the reregulated market made some of our polices out of date.
These changes are:
1. Temporarily change to our current position on the level of window tint required :
In new first time licensed vehicles*, pending the finalisation of the current vehicle condition review and to permit ALLOW windows that have the original manufactures standard specification in relation to tints (No modifications, after market tints, films or sprays will be permitted)
*Our current vehicle conditions only allow vehicles to be licensed that have a minimum light transmission value of 70% to all windows of the vehicle and 75% to the windscreen (Construction and use Regulation 32)
2. Temporarily change our age criteria to:
Extend age at first licensed for all vehicles to 10 years
Extend age at first licensed for low emission vehicles to 10 years, and,
To extend the maximum age of vehicle licensing to 15 years
The full details can be requested from the Taxi and Private Hire Licencing Team.
This is good news for the trade and reflects the reality of the market in a deregulated environment, with cross-border trading.
The Sentencing Council has published a package of 12 new and revised guidelines related to motoring offences which will come into effect on 1 July 2023.
This follows a consultation held from July to September 2022.
The revised guidelines, which update those produced by the Sentencing Guidelines Council in 2008, reflect increased maximum penalties for causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs.
The maximum penalties for these two offences were increased by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 from 14 years to life imprisonment.
New guidelines for other offences have also been published. These include careless and dangerous driving offences resulting in serious injury.
The Council is also producing full guidelines for the offences of driving or being in charge of a vehicle with a concentration of a specified drug over the specified limit, offences introduced in 2015 and for which there has only been sentencing guidance so far.
A new guideline has also been developed for causing injury by wanton or furious driving, which can be used where a cyclist causes death or injury.
As ever, the Council is very grateful to those who responded to the consultation and those who assisted with research.
The responses we received have resulted in several modifications to the original proposals.
Alongside the guidelines we are publishing a document setting out the response to the consultation and other related documents which can be found on the Sentencing Council website here: https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk
Thanet District Council has brought a successful prosecution against a private hire operator and driver, following hearings in Margate Magistrates Court on Wednesday 26 April.
The court dismissed an appeal and awarded the council costs of £1,376.83.
At prosecution, the operator was found guilty of allowing an unlicensed private hire vehicle to be used and given fines and costs totalling £1,039.
In addition, the driver was found guilty of driving without a private hire vehicle licence and given fines and costs totalling £824.
The case was brought because the operator was allowing the use of a personalised number plate with the company name and the letters ‘CAB’, which could be used to ply for hire.
This is prohibited under the Private Hire Licence conditions; only Hackney Carriages are permitted to display the words ‘CAB’ or ‘TAXI’ on vehicles.
The driver was stopped in a joint operation organised by Thanet District Council and Kent Police. They were found to be displaying this number plate on their vehicle, after being repeatedly advised by council Licensing Officers that they could not licence the vehicle as private hire with that particular licence plate.
Cllr Heather Keen, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “Taxis provide an important service to our residents. It is extremely important that they are operating within the law, to protect taxi users and other licensed operators.
“Vehicle licences are issued with conditions to ensure the comfort and safety of passengers and may be subject to spot checks by Licensing Officers.”
“We take matters of this nature very seriously, and won’t hesitate to prosecute where we have evidence of vehicles operating without a valid licence in place.”
This is the first time that a successful prosecution has been brought in Kent, involving wording on a personalised number plate.
Members of the public are advised to always check that private hire vehicles or taxis are licensed.
Licensed vehicles display an identification plate on the rear, which states the correct vehicle registration number and expiry date.
Artur Nowostawski has been jailed for six years and nine months after he attacked a taxi driver earlier this year.
Taxi drivers in the city are facing significant financial losses after a series of electric vehicle charging point failures left them unable to operate.
Police are appealing for help to trace a man who disappeared after getting into a taxi bound for the Otley area of Leeds.
The company’s operator licence includes a condition ordering all drivers to undergo the same training as those from other companies.
Police have stopped a private hire driver who was driving the wrong way on the M1 close to Junction 8 at Hemel Hempstead.
Newcastle City Council is set to introduce strict new measures to tackle illegal and inconsiderate parking near Newcastle International Airport.
West Mercia Police is appealing for information following a rape that took place in Malvern's Priory Park early on Sunday, August 4th.
Glasgow taxi users could be facing a near-10% fare increase and extended night-time charges.
At least 14 cars have been damaged since June, with drivers suffering financial loss and emotional distress.
The attack happened at around 12.45pm on Etruria Vale Road, Stoke, when the victim, driving a Toyota Avensis, was punched in the face by one of the men.
Cumberland Council has taken decisive action to protect public safety by revoking the licence of a taxi driver charged last week with a serious racially aggravated offence.
A historic bridge has been closed indefinitely after an Uber car became wedged on Saturday morning.
A local councillor has sparked a debate on passenger safety after claiming that using locally licensed taxis is safer than hailing an Uber.
A taxi driver was attacked and subjected to racist abuse after two brothers refused to pay him up front.
Christopher Hilling, 64, admitted to engaging a child in sexual activity at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday 8 August.
Abdigani Ebrahim, 38, of Grangetown, admitted charges of affray and criminal damage following the incident in Northcote Street, Roath, last July.
The crackdown targeted drivers operating across council boundaries to ensure public safety and compliance with regulations.
Lucio Valentino relies on his six-year-old Border Collie, Pixel, to help manage his mental health conditions, including depression and personality disorders.
Taxi drivers across the Fylde Coast are set to receive a briefing note aimed at clearing up confusion over out-of-area private hire vehicles.
Police are appealing to find a taxi driver who may have "vital clues" about the murder of Ryan Passey seven years ago since he was fatally stabbed in a Stourbridge nightclub.