KELLY ANNOUNCES NEW TAXI REGULATIONS AND COMMENCEMENT OF 'OPERATION TAXIMETER'
Issued : Saturday 5 April, 2014
KELLY ANNOUNCES NEW TAXI REGULATIONS AND COMMENCEMENT OF 'OPERATION TAXIMETER'
- New Regulations to be introduced along with a tripling of the NTA's
Taxi Enforcement Team
Public Transport Minister, Alan Kelly T.D., today announced the
introduction of a new suite of regulations for the taxi sector set to
come into force this month, along with the commencement of a
comprehensive enforcement programme known as 'Operation Taximeter'.
The new regulations will include mandatory area knowledge tests for
drivers with a history of poor local knowledge, continuous tax
compliance monitoring, and restrictions on stamp 2 visa holders from
operating a taxi, as well as a maximum payment charge for credit/debit
card holders.
The regulations, which will be introduced and overseen by the National
Transport Authority, will also see an amendment to the specifications
for wheelchair accessible taxis making them more affordable.
"The taxi market relies on consumer confidence in a safe, reliable and
high quality SPSV service. I believe that the new regulations will
ensure that consumers will have that confidence in the sector and the
taxi drivers that do their jobs professionally will be rewarded by the
market. The new standards for wheelchair accessible vehicles will
reduce the costs of purchasing wheelchair accessible taxis
significantly and make more available for people with mobility
impairments," stated Minister Kelly.
The new regulations coincide with the appointment of fifteen new taxi
enforcement officers as part of 'Operation Taximeter'. The operation
will target both urban centers and rural towns to address unlicensed
operators and licensed operators not complying with the new Small
Public Service Vehicle (SPSV) regulations.
"I am determined that those who attempt to flout the law will be
pursued and face the consequences. This move will see the number of
enforcement officers treble, rising from eight to twenty-three.
Enforcement is the most significant issue that taxi drivers raise when
I meet them and we are pursuing a more rigorous way," the Minister
said.
"The taxi sector is a vital part of the country's transport system and
it has to be held to a high standard. I am satisfied that significant
improvements over the last three years means that we have a better
sector for both consumers and drivers."
Photo:
ENDS
The SPSV regulations introduce new measures provided for under the
2013 Act, as well as consolidating and replacing over fifty years of
regulations relating to the SPSV industry. Some of the new measures
included in the regulations are:
· New standard specification and age limits for wheelchair accessible vehicles;
· Maximum fee charge for payment by credit/debit cards;
· Restrictions on Stamp 2 Visa holders;
· Requirement for continuous tax clearance for drivers;
· Knowledge assessments where complaints have been received about
driver level of area knowledge; and
· Restrictions on advertising on vehicles.
The Taxi Regulation Act 2013, which was enacted on 23rd October 2013,
legally underpins many of the actions recommended by the Taxi
Regulation Review Report 2011. The aim of the 2011 Review, undertaken
in line with a commitment in the Programme for Government, was to
allow consumers to have confidence in the taxi system while also
ensuring that legitimate and competent operators and drivers can be
rewarded fairly by operating under a regulatory framework that is
adequately enforced.
The 2013 Act provides a robust framework for the implementation of the
key enforcement measures proposed under the Taxi Review, including
§ A proportionate system for mandatory disqualification from holding a
licence upon having a serious criminal conviction;
§ A system for revocation or suspension of a licence for
contraventions of the SPSV regulations;
§ A demerit scheme to deal with recurrent breaches of the SPSV regulations;
§ Enabling powers for An Garda Síochána to issue fixed charge notices
with respect to certain SPSV offences;
§ Powers for the NTA to engage into agreements with service providers
for the purposes of increasing its enforcement capacity and
capability; and,
§ Enforcement at taxi ranks involving use of CCTV and other apparatus.
