Taxi drivers in Rossendale, Lancashire, are to meet to discuss strike action over council proposals to introduce a penalty points system. They are disgruntled at Rossendale Council’s plans to introduce the scheme, which would see black cab and minicab drivers hit with the penalty points if they commit one of 34 breaches of licensing regulations.
Bringing in this new scheme would result in drivers landing four points for sounding a horn to announce arrival, three points for parking on the kerb and eight points for urinating or defecating in public.
If drivers accrue 20 points within a year, they could have to re-sit their test or have their licence revoked.
Black Cab Rules
These rules would apply to 160 hackney cabs and nine minicab vehicles in the area. Members of Rossendale’s Taxi Association and Independent Taxi Drivers’ Association are angry at the proposal.
David Lawrie – spokesman for independent taxi drivers in the borough – said: “We are having an association meeting on Monday at which point we will decide what action to take and when to take it, but it should be within two weeks”.
“In our opinion, the whole idea of a penalty points system is illegal because they are trying to apply points to licences without any convictions.”
A consultation period for people to provide feedback on the proposed scheme will run until November 2nd.
Stuart Sugarman, Rossendale Council’s business director, said: “The penalty points system deals with minor transgressions that do not justify the immediate loss of a driver’s license but an accumulation of points over a year would be a sign that the driver may not be fit and proper to provide a high quality of taxi service.”