Hundreds of taxi and minicab drivers have protested over plans to revoke their licences if they get six penalty points in a year.
Drivers demonstrated outside Leeds Civic Hall earlier against Leeds City Council's new "six point policy".
The policy comes into force on 2 February and will result in a three-year suspension of offending drivers' taxi and private hire licences.
The council said the move would "improve passenger safety".
But drivers say the policy is "too draconian" and "disproportionate".
Leeds Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers said they were under "severe pressure" to concentrate on roads and policymakers "do not understand".
"Can you imagine trying to control your speed or trying to behave in a professional manner with passengers being threatening, abusive, or with the fear that your passenger may stab you?" a statement read out at the protest said.
Under the new rules, licence holders with over six points but no new cautions, convictions or points may continue to hold a taxi licence but failing to disclose new offences could mean it is suspended or revoked.
Taxi licences are suspended or revoked if drivers exceed 12 penalty points under current council policy.
The drivers demanded a "proper working party" with the council, including private hire and hackney cab representatives.
https://www.bbc.co.uk
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SOUTH RIBBLE
Residents and taxi operators in South Ribble are being asked for their thoughts on a series of proposed changes to the regulations governing private hire and Hackney vehicles in the district.
South Ribble Borough Council has launched a public consultation into six of its taxi licensing policies on issues ranging from signage to emissions.
Under the plans, only fully electric, wheelchair-accessible vehicles could be added to the area’s Hackney fleet as part of efforts to improve air quality.
The maximum age of all taxis on South Ribble’s streets would also be reduced in attempt to make them more environmentally friendly. At the moment, wheelchair-accessible vehicles are allowed to remain in use for 12 years, but saloon cabs have to be retired after eight.
The council is proposing to equalise the maximise age of all taxi types to eight years, after analysis found that out of 231 Hackney and private hire vehicles licensed in the borough, 89 would not meet EU emissions standards for new vehicles – 77 of which are vehicles classed as having disabled access.
The authority also wants to make it clearer to passengers whether they are getting into a private hire or Hackney taxi – because of the different rules relating to how each type of vehicle should be booked. Only Hackney cabs can be hailed on the street, while private hire cars have to be pre-booked – or else people travelling in them are not insured for their journey.
Licensing bosses have designed a new standardised sign for private hire vehicles which they want to see displayed in the same position on every vehicle.
Lancashire Post
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Taxi drivers in east Suffolk could face drug tests to keep accepting passengers.
A proposal before East Suffolk Council's licensing committee suggests the mandatory tests be introduced to ensure the safety of passengers and the general public.
The move comes after two drivers were found to have been suspended or banned from operating after being arrested.
The new policy is hoped to ensure only "fit and proper" drivers are granted a taxi licence in the district, while allowing the council to quickly revoke licences of drivers who take illegal drugs.
A report prepared ahead of the licensing committee's meeting on Monday, January 20 said: "In the past 18 months, the licensing authority has suspended or revoked the licences of two hackney carriage and private hire drivers.
"This was as a result of their arrests, in separate incidents, on the roadside by Suffolk police.
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news
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