Hull’s taxi licensing department has stated that a mobile taxi booking system operated by a local private hire firm is legal. The mobile private hire booking system had caused a lot of controversy and anger with Hull’s black cab taxi drivers.
As previously reported, a local private hire firm had employed a ‘mobile’ booker at various locations within the City to take pre-booked journeys for customers. A handheld device is used to send the private hire booking to the base and the customer is issued with a receipt for their journey.
This method of taxi booking has caused anger and resentment within the Hackney Carriage trade. A licensed public hire driver is able to pick up customers without prior bookings as per the conditions of their taxi licenses. The mobile taxi booking system, the first of its kind in Hull is seen as a threat to the livelihood and earnings by the public hire drivers.
Because the mobile system does not solicit for fares, Hull’s licensing committee has deemed the venture perfectly legal, following an investigation after receiving a complaint.
After the investigations, the private hire firm received a letter from the Council stating that the mobile taxi booking system does not contravene any licensing laws and other related legislations.
Also this scheme ensured that the members of the public were being transported in vehicles that that were licensed and had the correct private hire insurance.
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