Cabby points scheme gets green light (From Worcester News)

Cabby points scheme gets green light

6:00am Thursday 18th March 2010 in

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A PENALTY points scheme that could result in Worcester’s taxi drivers having their licences suspended or revoked if they commit too many offences in a year has been approved.

Worcester City Council’s licensing committee unanimously agreed to introduce the system in a bid to raise standards in the trade.

Offences range from overcharging customers, having too many taxis in a rank, or even failing to wear a driver’s badge.

We previously reported in your Worcester News how drivers will not be fined but they could be issued with between two and eight penalty points, depending on the nature of each offence or breach of licence.

If a taxi driver notches up 20 or more points within a year, the council will have the power to bring that person before its licensing sub committee for a review that could result in a suspension or removal of licence.

At the meeting Councillor Alan Amos questionned whether issuing points to a driver would be enough of a deterrent.

“Some of these offences are criminal,” he said.

But licensing officer Carl Phillips said any driver caught committing a serious offence such as drink-driving would also be brought before the committee.

Councillor Paul Denham, who chaired the working party which agreed the points for each offence, added the points system will be used in addition to exisiting powers which allow members to call drivers before a sub committee or take a person to court.

The system has the support of Worcester Taxi Drivers’ Association and West Mercia Police.