Reading Borough Council have warned taxi drivers that they will be issued with penalty tickets if caught engine idling at taxi ranks ‘where relevant signage is in place’.

Union representatives were warned that licensing officers would be stepping up their enforcement it will be stepping up its enforcement at a licensing applications committee meeting on Tuesday, June 11, according to a report.

Up until now, taxi licensing enforcement officers have only been able to issue tickets if drivers refuse to turn off their engines when warned but now tickets will be issued if caught with an idling engine.

Councillor Tony Page, lead member for Strategic Environment and Transport, said to taxi union representatives at the meeting: “I am now saying to council officers that where we are able to we should be serving penalty tickets to drivers that are idling unnecessarily.

“There is no excuse. Could you please say to members that we will be stepping up our enforcement.

“The days of sending warning letters are over.”
The council agreed to inform and communicate with taxi drivers on the harm caused by idling back in 2017 but more action is now needed to deal with a minority of drivers who still sit with their engine running. 

Cllr Page added: “Since then officers have repeated this same message to the trade organisations and many drivers appear to have taken the message on board. However, a minority have not.

“Taxi licencing enforcement officers routinely ask taxi drivers to turn off their engines when they visit the ranks.

“The drafting of the legislation requires that officers provide a warning to drivers and if they comply a fixed penalty notice cannot be issued.

“It is now time that further and more formal action is taken with drivers and the trade to try to change the culture around idling.

“Officers are now actively issuing fixed penalty notices for unnecessary idling at a rank where relevant signage is in place.”

https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/17714417.reading-borough-councils-tony-page-issues-engine-idling-warning-for-taxis/
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SUNDERLAND (UPDATE)

Taxi drivers coming in and out of Sunderland could face increased checks under new plans backed by council bosses.

This week, Sunderland City Council's cabinet agreed to sign-up to a North East taxi licensing agreement.

The plan, involving the regions 11 other councils, aims to keep passengers safe and boost regulation of the trade.

It follows councils expressing concerns about increasing numbers of taxis licensed by other councils operating in their areas.

These 'out of area' vehicles are not subject to the regulations of the council they're working in.
Under the new agreement, private hire and hackney carriages licensed in other council areas would face inspections when entering Sunderland.
Coun Amy Wilson, the council's cabinet member for Environment and Transport, outlined the plans to cabinet on Tuesday (June 18).

And she said the agreement would allow "effective regulation of the taxi trade both in Sunderland and throughout the North East".
She added: "The primary aim of the licensing of taxi drivers, vehicles and operators is to protect the public and promote safety.

"Recent national concerns relating to the safeguarding of vulnerable adults and children has led to the publication of a proposed new statutory guidance for licensing authorities in this respect.

"As a consequence, a review is currently being undertaken in respect of licensing to consider any emerging new responsibilities and potential improvements which will seek to enhance the safety of taxi users and protection of the public."

The meeting heard the first part of the review would authorise the need for "cross-border enforcement officers."

As of May 2019, there were 347 Hackney Carriages in Sunderland, 443 Private Hire vehicles and 1,165 drivers.

Council licensing bosses are set to work Sunderland drivers raise awareness of the changes - as they may face inspections while working in other local authority areas.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/taxi-drivers-sunderland-could-face-16453564
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MANCHESTER

A taxi driver could have found himself on trial for rape had a tracker device not been fitted to his vehicle, a jury heard.

Laura Hood, 27, of Stockport, Greater Manchester, claimed cab driver Haroon Yousaf raped her after a night out in January 2017.

Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard the tracker "proved her account of being raped is simply untrue".

Ms Hood denies perverting the course of justice.

The court heard Mr Yousaf was arrested and kept in custody for 20 hours the day after the allegation was made against him.

Prosecutor Geoff Whelan said it was "extremely fortunate" his taxi was fitted with the device as it recorded the exact route the taxi had taken and at no point did it turn off into a side street, as claimed by the defendant.

Shortly after Ms Hood was dropped off near her home on 8 January 2017 the defendant told her mother and stepfather she had been raped and they called the police, the court heard.

Officers were told the driver had travelled the "wrong way", pulled over and raped her in the back of the cab, jurors heard.

No physical evidence

Mr Whelan said Ms Hood got into Mr Yousaf's taxi outside a bar in Deansgate Locks.

She insisted he drop her off at the end of her street and paid the fare telling Mr Yousaf to keep the £4 change, said Mr Whelan.

No forensic evidence showed any physical contact between Mr Yousaf and the defendant, jurors heard.

Ms Hood had described her attacker as in his late 50s and with no facial hair but Mr Younas is aged 29 with a full beard, the court heard.

Mr Whelan said it was a "clearest possible example" of perverting the course of justice.

He said she now accepts Mr Yousaf did not rape her, but she believed she was raped in the taxi and therefore she denied the charge.

The trial continues.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-48693800
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