New rules to make taxis safer and drive out rogue operators

The Government has unveiled a series of measures to make taxis safer for customers.

Major areas addressed in a report published yesterday by Alan Kelly, minister of state for public and commuter transport, include:

* The removal of certain categories of criminals from the sector.

* A provision that a vehicle licence must be registered to the car owner.

* The ending this year of the transfer of vehicle licences.

* Annual social welfare and revenue checks for drivers/vehicle owners.

* The introduction of a smartphone app so customers can check that their driver is licensed.

“If you’re a rogue operator in this industry, or if you are somebody that should not be operating behind the wheel of a taxi vehicle, this is not going to be a good day for you. This is a good day for the professional taxi driver,” said Mr Kelly. “Those convicted of serious crimes will no longer be able to operate taxis and that will be retrospective,” he said.

The new measures will see those with certain criminal convictions having to apply to the courts to maintain their licence.

Mr Kelly also said revenue avoidance and fraud needed to be addressed.

The report notes there is an over-supply of taxis of 13%-22% and Mr Kelly feels a significant number of the 38,000 taxi drivers will quit as a result of the new measures, which include the introduction of a system of penalty points specific to the taxi sector.

Legislation will be introduced to allow licences to be suspended for specific breaches of regulation. It is also planned to introduce a graduated system of fixed fines as opposed to a single €250 fine for all offences.

An age limit of nine years will apply to new taxis and those in service since January 2009.

New licence applicants will have to accept credit, debit and Leap cards.

Mr Kelly said it was also planned to introduce a low-cost hackney licence for rural community groups or businesses.

President of the Irish Taxi Drivers’ Federation, John Ussher, was disappointed the Government had turned down its request to buy back licences. He said, while members preferred that part-time taxi drivers left the business, they welcomed the new requirement that such drivers must declare to their main employer that they hold a taxi licence.