Taxi drivers to face sanctions through penalty point system

on 23/01/2013 20:41:08

Taxi drivers who overcharge customers or take unnecessarily long routes will face sanctions through a penalty point system in the coming months.

That is due to new regulations being introduced by the Oireachtas, which also include rules to ban people convicted of murder and rape from driving taxis.

The Public Transport Minister Alan Kelly has said that there are people holding taxi permits who should not be, and it is time for the practice to end.

Groups representing taxi drivers have tonight called the bill "draconian", and have criticised the apparent lack of an appeals system in the legislation.