Friday 26 June 2015
Media Enquiry from BBC Radio Guernsey:
We've been told that taxi drivers are now charging a minimum of £15 for airport jobs to reflect the amount of time it takes them to go there, wait for flights, etc...
I was wondering if you could answer the following questions in relation to this....
- Is this something that the department is aware of?
- Is this practice sanctioned or condoned by the department?
- What conditions or regulations are in place to oversee and control charges by taxi drivers?
- Is the practice of setting a minimum charge legal? If so, are there any conditions attached to this?
- Please could you tell me how many people have surrendered or given up their taxi licence in the last two years and how many new licences (including live applications) have been processed in the last two years.
Environment Department Response:
The Environment Department is responsible for setting the maximum fares chargeable using a taximeter installed in a licensed taxi. However, it is permissible for the holder of a 'Taxi Service Licence' to operate a private hire motor car service in accordance with the terms of a single contract; i.e. to carry passengers on a particular journey for a predetermined fare. On this basis, the agreement of the fare is purely a matter between the taxi operator and the client.
The Department is aware that some taxi operators book airport transfers on the basis of a private hire arrangement. In this way the taxi operator receives a guaranteed fare on the basis of whatever was agreed with the client. It is understood that this practice is preferred by some operators due to the fact that there are occasions when a customer has pre-booked a taxi but because their flight has come in early, rather than wait for the taxi that they booked, they have taken another taxi from the Airport taxi rank.
When booking a taxi, a customer can usually expect to be charged on the basis of a fare calculated in accordance with the authorised fare structure on a taxi meter. However, as described above the option does exist to agree a fee with the taxi operator. This option certainly provides the taxi operator with a guaranteed income and, depending on when the flight actually arrives, it could prove beneficial to the customer as the driver is entitled to charge what is known as "collection time" when using a taxi meter which can be applied from the time when the pre-agreed pick up time has been reached. Of course many taxi drivers choose not to make this charge, especially for regular customers.
Ultimately, the customer can choose which taxi operator to use when making a pre-booking and if they are not happy with the proposed fare structure then they are perfectly entitled to take their business elsewhere. Alternatively, they can arrive on spec and use a taxi from the taxi rank on the basis of a metered fare.
You enquire as to how many people have surrendered or given up their 'taxi licence' in the last two years. According to our records, 18 taxi licences (white plates) have been transferred since January 2014.
It should be noted that there are 115 standard taxi licences in issue and that when surrendered the licence is then issued to a nominated replacement. In addition, there are 10 early retirement (Green plates) in issue and, earlier this year, the Department also issued four new Accessible Taxi (Orange plates) bringing the total number of currently licensed taxis to 129.
Contact Information:
Karl Guille, Traffic and Transport Services Manager
Environment Department
Tel: 243400
