A number of licensed private hire drivers from Woking, Surrey had their taxi licenses suspended after picking up passengers without any prior bookings. A private hire vehicle cannot pick up passengers without it being pre-booked, however a public hire taxi car can be hailed on the street.
The four private hire drivers had their taxi badges suspended after a meeting of Woking Council’s licensing committee decided to revoke the driver’s badges pending further investigation.
A joint operation with Woking taxi licensing officers and Surrey police were able to catch 4 private hire drivers who were ‘touting’ for taxi business in the town centre
Although the drivers were suspended, it was found that all the 4 private hire drivers had the correct paperwork with all the vehicles plated and also carrying the required safety equipments. The only issue was that as private hire licensed drivers their insurance policies only provide cover for journeys that are pre-booked. All private hire drivers must have a private hire insurance policy in place prior to using their vehicles for the carriage of passengers.
Both the private hire and the public hire black cab taxi’s are not allowed approaching customers directly for business. A customer may pre-book their journey by either using a minicab firm or alternatively approaching or hailing black cab taxi on the road.
A local Woking Police officer stated, ‘That taxi and private hire drivers are fully aware of the conditions of their taxi licenses and the regulations that they must obey by.”
Private hire drivers are only license to carry passengers who have a prior booking, while Hackney Carriage drivers are only licensed to accept fares from customers who have approached them.”
A council spokesperson said, “Further spot checks and investigations will be carried out until the message gets understood by all licensed drivers that disregarding regulation rules will not be tolerated.”