Suffolk Coastal District Council has a statutory responsibility
to licence the hackney carriage (taxi) and private hire trade
operating in its area.
It is the job of the Council’s Licensing Team to make sure
that:
- The taxi and private hire trade is operated in a professional
manner
- Correct standards of safety and comfort are met by all
vehicles, drivers and operators.
- Vehicles, drivers and operators satisfy the conditions of their
licence.
Our overriding principle is the safety of the travelling
public.
Please note that complaints about a licenced driver or operator,
or about unlicensed activities, can be made under the licensing
authority’s
complaints procedure. All complaints are treated
confidentially, but you are asked to leave your full details with
us.
Applying for a licence
A person wishing to use a vehicle to ply for hire from a taxi
rank or direct from the street will require a hackney
carriage vehicle licence and a hackney carriage
driver's licence.
Alternatively, pre-booked vehicles will fall within private hire
legislation which requires vehicles to have a private hire
vehicle licence and for the driver to have a
private hire driver's licence.
In addition to this, a person making the provision for the
acceptance of pre-booked journeys will require a private
hire operator's licence.
If you would like to become a licensed driver there are several
checks which you will have to pass, with separate fees payable for
each of the checks. All new applicants must consent to and
satisfy:
- An enhanced level Criminal Record Bureau check.
- A DVLA check if you have unspent endorsements on your driving
licence.
- A medical check by your own GP (unless you hold a PCV or HGV
licence).
- A driving skills test & theory test.
- For hackney carriage drivers only, a local geographical
knowledge test.
Please contact the Licensing Team for further advice on how to
start your application.
Licence fees
Private hire vehicles
Private hire vehicles are different from taxis:
- Private hire vehicles may only be booked by telephone.
- These are subject to fares agreed between the hirer and the
operator.
- In the Suffolk Coastal district the vehicles have blue
licence plates affixed to the rear (showing the Council’s
logo, the licence number, vehicle type and registration index, and
the licence expiry date), a smaller version of the licence plate
inside the vehicle, and no meter or roof sign.
- The driver will be wearing a blue identity
badge (which shows his or her licence number, an ID photo,
and licence expiry date).
Taxis
- All taxis are fitted with taxi meters. These calculate the fare
based on the distance travelled and any 'waiting time' which
includes time when the taxi is stopped in traffic. Different fare
tariffs apply at different times of the day and Sundays and bank
holidays.
- The Council sets a maximum tariff but taxi drivers can charge
less if they so wish. However, taxi drivers may not charge in
excess of the maximum tariff.
- A tariff chart should be clearly visible to the passengers in
the vehicle.
- The vehicle will carry a roof sign.
- In the Suffolk Coastal district the vehicles have green
licence plates affixed to the rear (showing the Council’s
logo, the licence number, vehicle type and registration index, and
the licence expiry date), and a smaller version of the licence
plate inside the vehicle.
- The driver will be wearing a white identity
badge (which shows his or her licence number, an ID photo,
and licence expiry date).
Important changes to private hire licensing in 2008
In the past, a vehicle was exempt from the requirement to be
licensed as a private hire vehicle if it was used for contracts
lasting not less than seven days. This was commonly known as 'the
contract exemption'. Neither the driver of the vehicle nor the
operator who arranged the hirings needed to be licensed.
However, Government Ministers decided that this exemption posed
a significant safety risk and should be repealed. Section 53 of the
Road Safety Act repealed the contract exemption, and started in
January 2008.
From January 2008, operators of airport travel, chauffeur
services, courtesy cars, executive hire, hospital cars, novelty
vehicles, stretched limousines, school contracts and similar
services have to be licensed by the Council. In addition, the
drivers that provide these services must have private hire
licences, and the vehicles they drive must be also be licenced.
Contact details
For more information and advice about any of the above matters
please contact:
Licensing Team,
Suffolk Coastal District Council,
Melton Hill,
Woodbridge,
Suffolk IP12 1AU.
Telephone: 01394 444802.
Fax: 01394 385100.
Email:
licensing@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk.
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