Kirklees Council has said it will rethink its decision to introduce temporary taxi license bans to drivers with more than nine penalty points following protests from the trade.
Last month councillors made the decision to toughen licensing rules so that people with previous convictions of rape, sexual offences, trafficking or possession of indecent images of children, could not receive a taxi license.
Not surprisingly, there haven’t been any complaints on that front. However, also added to the list of changes was a ban for drivers that have accumulated nine or more penalty points. To lift the suspension, drivers would then have to pass a Driving Standards Agency test.
Trade Response
News of the ban wasn’t welcomed by the trade with many fearing they would lose their livelihoods and only source of income.
In response to the council’s decision, a mix of private hire and hackney taxi drivers protested in front of a full council meeting and presented a petition signed by over 1,000 people.
Member of the Kirklees Taxi Association, Ismail Brhana, urged the council listen to the taxi trade.
He said: “Both hackney and private hire drivers are very unhappy about the penalty point system. It will seriously impact on our livelihood.
“We believe it’s too harsh and instead more training should take place for safer driving. We believe we have to help promote safer driving which will bring advantages to the trade and public.”
Council Agrees to Reassessment
Councillor Mumtaz Hussain, who voted against the initial suspension ruling, said he would be happy to back the drivers in this case.
In response to Mr Brhana’s request, Council Leader, David Sheard, said: “I’m not saying that the committee will agree to what you’re asking for but they will look at it. The decision will be for the committee but the consultation issue is one they need to look at.”