Taxi Legal - Taxi Defence Barristers Blog
Taxi Legal articles and topics relating to taxi licence refusal and revocation.
Taxi Defence Barristers are pleased to announce the opening of their Scotland office – Taxi Defence Scotland
Kings View Chambers and Taxi Defence Barristers are pleased to announce the opening of their Scotland office – Taxi Defence Scotland.
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Will there be a statutory definition of cross border hiring and plying for hire?
Whilst we still await the Department for Transport’s final Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle licensing report, the newly re-elected chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Taxis has given an indication of the lobbying they will be focussing on in the forthcoming year.
Will there be a statutory definition of cross border hiring and plying for hire?
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CCTV in taxis – What is the law on continuous recording?
Continuous recording CCTV systems are systems that start recording whenever a vehicle is running and continues to record until the vehicle engine is switched off. When a taxi or private hire vehicle is used privately (i.e. not for hire or reward), the CCTV system continues to record.
Is continuous recording CCTV systems installed in taxis lawful?
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Disclosures on Enhanced Criminal Records Certificates
The Supreme Court recently handed down an important ruling concerning information that can be disclosed on an enhanced criminal records certificate (“ECRC”). The ruling handed down by the Supreme Court in this case will have implications for the taxi and private hire sector.
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Can a taxi or private hire driver argue “exceptional hardship” when facing losing their licence?
We are often asked by taxi and private hire licence holders whether “exceptional hardship” is a valid argument to advance in cases where they are facing a disqualification for totting up.
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Taxi & private hire licensing information to be entered on national database
Information about drivers who have had their licences refused or revoked will have their details entered on to a national database for councils to check before issuing licences.
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Will the Government legislate to limit the number of private hire licences?
Sadiq Khan has written to the Government seeking new powers to limit the number of private hire licences in the capital. Will the Government introduce new powers to limit private hire licences?
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Is it worth appealing a decision of a licensing authority?
Taxi Defence Barristers offer clients a free initial case assessment. During this free initial case assessment conversation, clients often ask if it is worth appealing a decision of a licensing authority.
When deciding whether an appeal is worth the effort, time and cost, there are a number of things to consider.
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Taxi & Private Hire Licensing Law Reform in Wales
Follow us Earlier this year, the Welsh Government launched a consultation on wholesale taxi and private hire licensing law reform in Wales. Currently, the same legislative framework for regulating taxi and private hire licensing exists in both England and Wales. ...
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Taxi Defence Barristers wins licence back after false allegation
Mr Tony Scott instructed Taxi Defence Barristers to represent him in his appeal against a decision of Conwy County Borough Council to refuse him a licence on the grounds that he was not a fit and proper person.
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The Inclusive Transport Strategy: Government publish vision to accessible taxi & PH sector
The Government has published its Inclusive Transport Strategy. What does it mean for the taxi and private hire sector?
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Uber driver has plying for hire charges thrown out
An Uber driver reported for two offences of illegally plying for hire in Reading has had the charges thrown out in an important test case.
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Can TfL lawfully revoke licences for social media posts?
We have recently seen reports on social media that some licensed driver’s have had letters from Transport for London (TfL) threatening to revoke licences for content posted by these drivers on social media.
Can TfL lawfully revoke licences under these circumstances?
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Licence suspensions: Punishment or public safety?
Follow us There have recently been media reports of a licensed hackney carriage driver who have had their taxi driving licence suspended by Bolton Council following a case of “misconduct” by the driver. It appears from the minutes of the Licensing and Environmental...
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Guilty until proven innocent?
It is a fundamental principle of English law that a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Does the same principle apply however to a hackney carriage or private hire driver?
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Court upholds Uber’s appeal against its London licence refusal
Westminster Magistrates’ Court has today upheld Uber’s appeal against Transport for London’s (TfL) decision not to renew its operating licence in London.
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Losing your licence is not the end of the road
If your taxi or private hire licence is revoked, refused or suspended, the law allows you to appeal such a decision. Since you are allowed the opportunity to appeal, a decision taken by a licensing authority to take your licence away is not the end of the road.
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Are you GDPR compliant?
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has brought important and significant changes to data protection laws in the UK. GDPR affects the taxi & private hire licensing too. Are you complaint?
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Can your licence be suspended for flying your country’s flag on your licensed vehicle during the 2018 Football World Cup?
In the case of Wilcock v Lancaster City Council, the High Court ruled on the interpretation of section 68. It said that “…it is accepted that the word “fitness” under section 60 includes matters such as breach of licence conditions…I have reached the clear view that the word “fitness” in section 68 means precisely the same as it means in section 60.”
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Duties under the Equality Act 2010 for taxi and private hire drivers – Assistance Dogs
As a driver of a licensed taxi or private hire vehicle, there are a number of legal duties that you have to comply with. If you do not, you may be committing an offence and face a fine of up to £1000.
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When can your licence be suspended with immediate effect?
Under section 61 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, a licensing authority can suspend, revoke or refuse to renew a driver’s hackney carriage or private hire licence on any of the following grounds:
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Has Uber changed it ways?
The case management hearing was held in the Westminster Magistrates’ Court in last month (April). During the case management hearing, Uber said it has sought to “repair and reform” its business. It said lessons had been learned from extensive criticism by TfL.
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LPHCA Ltd (t/a Licensed Private Car Hire Association) v Transport for London (TfL)
Mr Justice Ouseley has handed down his judgement in the case of Licensed Private Car Hire Association) v Transport for London. The LPHCA was given permission by Mr Justice Dingemans on 7 February 2018 to challenge the very substantial increases in the licence fees for Private Hire Operators in London, which were imposed by TfL with effect from 3 October 2017.
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TfL extend Private Hire vehicle consultation
Transport for London has extended its consultation on its proposals for improving safety in Private Hire Vehicles (PHVs).
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TfL win operator Voice Contact Requirement case
The Court of Appeal have ruled in favour of TfL’s requirement to impose a “Voice Contact Requirement” on all licensed operators in the capital.
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Councils accused of endangering the public with inadequate licensing procedures
Councils around the country have been accused of massive failings that could endanger the public by not properly checking taxi drivers before issuing them a licence. An investigation by the Times, has revealed that Rossendale Council licensed almost 4,000 drivers...
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Black Cab drivers face losing their licence under radical new TfL enforcement powers
Transport for London’s (TfL) Taxi and Private Hire Compliance Officers have been given sweeping new powers to carry out roadside stops without an accompanying police presence. TfL Taxi and Private Hire Compliance Officers previously undertook roadside inspections and...
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Alpha Insurance A/S declared bankrupt
Popular taxi & private hire insurance firm Alpha Insurance A/S has been declared bankrupt on the 8th of May 2018.
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Uber’s Brighton operating licence refused
Brighton and Hove Council have refused to renew Uber’s operating licence in the city. The council refused to grant the renewal of Uber’s operating licence because, amongst other reasons, it had concerns over Uber’s commitment to use only Brighton and Hove licensed...
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Don’t underestimate the importance of legal representation
Taxi and private hire licensing is one of the most complex areas of public law. This is almost exclusively as a consequence of archaic primary legislation that dates as far back as the reign of Queen Victoria. The complexity of taxi and private hire licensing is...
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Taxi Defence Barristers are taxi legal team who specialise in helping drivers who have had their licences refused or revoked. Our barristers have challenged the decisions of TfL and the PCO for many clients. We don’t underestimate importance of guiding clients through the complexities of hackney carriage and private hire laws. We ensure our clients understand at each stage what is going on.
Please contact us to discuss your taxi license refusal or revocation.