Taxi Legal - Taxi Defence Barristers Blog
Taxi Legal articles and topics relating to taxi licence refusal and revocation.
Minimum standards for taxi & private hire drivers
It seems certain that the Government will introduce minimum standards for taxi and private hire drivers. Will this be the answer to drivers seeking licences in areas where they have no intention of working?
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No deal Brexit – Taxi Licensing Implications for EU nationals
In the event of a no-deal Brexit, there may be implications for EU and EEA nationals working as taxi and private hire drivers in the UK.
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Uber “invitation to book” – High Court says no
Following the recent High Court ruling that Uber vehicles are not guilty of illegally plying for hire when they work where they are not licensed, but is this the end of the ride hailing issues?
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High Court ruling in Equality Act case and meaning of “charging”
The High Court has confirmed that switching your taximeter on before you assist a disabled person – even if you do not actually charge them – is an office under the Equality Act 2010.
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Government postpone taxi tax checks
The Government has postponed plans to introduce mandatory tax registration checks for taxi and private hire drivers.
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DfT response lacks understanding of trade’s plight
The recently published Government response to the taxi and private hire task and finish group report lacks a real understanding of the trade’s day to day struggle.
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Taxi & PH vehicle database confirmed by Government
The Government has confirmed that from May, taxi and private hire national database will be mandatory.
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DfT task group response and consultation
The DfT response and consultation following the taxi Task & Finish Group report including, mandatory CCTV requirement, cross border enforcement, national standards, mandatory training etc.
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Uber win Reading Appeal
The High Court has today held that use of the Uber app does not amount to plying for hire.
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Calls for more “digital taxi firms” in London
The London Night Time Commission has called on the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to promote the use and growth of “digital taxi firms” in capital.
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Taxi & private hire fees
It is the time to the year when licensing authorities are setting their fees for the next financial year. It is important that taxi and private hire licence holders understand the law relating to fee setting.
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Is the Government about to change DBS checks for taxi & private hire drivers?
The Government has recently lost a Supreme Court ruling which may result in a change to the way they process criminal records checks for, amongst others, taxi and private hire drivers.
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Taxi and private hire licensing reform. We’re already behind…again.
Whilst Government is still wondering how to regulate the use of smartphone apps and ride hailing services, innovation has moved on to autonomous taxis.
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10 things you may not know about your taxi licence appeal and defence
Mandatory taxi & PH emissions reporting set to go ahead
The Government has laid Regulations in Parliament that will make it mandatory for council’s to regularly upload certain taxi & PH data to a national emissions database.
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Hackney Carriage Fares: When you can charge what
Regulating fares locally places a number of statutory duties on drivers of hackney carriage vehicles. Here is a brief overview of what is permitted and what is not.
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Taxi Defence Barristers comment on Times “lifts” article
Licensing barrister and head of Taxi Defence Barristers, Stephen McCaffrey, was asked to comment on a Times article on the growing “doing lifts” industry.
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Return to base or right or roam?
In recent months, the debate on the legalities of cross-border hiring has seen no abating. There have been several judicial decisions on the matter and of course the taxi finish and task group has made recommendations to Government to legislate in order to address concerns and close the “loop”.
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Uber, Brighton and cross-border hiring – Overview of case and findings
The District Judge in the Uber v Brighton appeal has made a number of important statements on the legal status of cross-border hiring.
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Taxi Defence Barristers success in Crown Court taxi licence appeal
“This case clearly proved the importance of the right and expert taxi legal advice and representation and the importance of evidence to substantiate complaints in taxi and private hire cases.” – Stephen McCaffrey, Barrister.
read moreUber win Brighton refusal appeal
Uber has been successful in appealing Brighton City Council’s decision to refuse to renew its operating licence.
read moreA single national licensing authority for taxis in Wales
The Welsh Government has set out plans to take taxi and private hire licensing away from local licensing authorities and hand it over to a single national licensing authority.
read moreCross-border hiring: Is enforcement mandatory?
There are a variety of arguments put forward on what is, and is not, lawful in respect of cross-border hiring practices. The complication for the licensed trade is that these are only legal options. Ultimately what is needed is the judgement of at least the High Court.
read moreA round up of Government proposals for further taxi & private hire law reform
There has recently been a raft of announcements from various Government departments about proposed future changes & plans relating to the taxi & private hire sector. In this article, I will be looking at the Government proposals and what the implications are for the sector.
read more“Absolute” provisions in taxi & private hire policies – is there room for manoeuvre?
Increasingly convictions policies are being framed in more absolute terms using terms such as “will not” be granted a licence. The use of “absolute terms” in licensing policies inevitably raises the question of whether such a policy is binding in their effect and whether, therefore, it fetters the discretion of the decision makers.
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"Doing lifts" – An emerging unlawful industry
The emerging popularity of “doing lift” services is an issue that regulators need to urgently get to grips with as it is undermining the UK’s stringent taxi and private hire licensing laws.
read moreAppealing a decision of a licensing authority
Taxi and private hire drivers, operators and proprietors should always give serious consideration to appealing a decision by a licensing authority to refuse, revoke or suspend a licence.
read moreNew “tax” registration checks proposed for taxi/PH sector
The Government is set to announce legislation that will require tax registration checks to be undertaken on all taxi and private hire licence holders.
read moreAllegations against taxi/private hire drivers
Malicious allegations can be difficult for a licensed driver to manage and there is a lot to consider. It is important for any such a driver to be well represented by an expert in both taxi/private hire law and criminal law.
read moreMinimum wage for private hire drivers?
Will there be a change in Government policy to introduce a minimum wage requirement for private hire drivers? We look at the Government’s response to a Parliamentary question.
read moreTaxi legal services when you need them
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.