BRIGHTON: IDLING ENGINE FINE COMES IN
ROUND THE COUNCILS NEW FOREST:
LICENSING FEES/POLICY CONSULTATION
Drivers have slammed a new rule meaning they could be fined for leaving their engine running while parked as “anti-motorist”. The measure, brought in by Brighton and Hove City Council on Tuesday January 2, means motorists must now turn off their engine while in a parking bay, taxi rank and other parts of the road or they could face a £40 fine. The council disputes claims the scheme is anti- motorist and said it is instead an anti-pollution measure. The council added that an idling engine can produce up to twice as many exhaust emissions as an engine in motion. The crackdown will not apply to stationary vehicles sitting in traffic. Concerns have been raised about circumstances where leaving an engine on might be unavoidable, including when deicing a car, or in a health emergency. The highway code states that “windscreens and windows must be kept clean and free from obstructions to vision” and some drivers raised concerns about how they might start their cars on frosty mornings and allow heaters to demist their windows. Brighton Council has since confirmed that drivers will not be fined in this instance. A council spokesman said: “Our enforcement team asks drivers with idling engines to switch the engine off. We only fine people who refuse to do so. “There are also a number of scenarios where we would not issue fines.”These include: • To a vehicle when demisting its windscreen • To elderly or vulnerable people who need the engine to be on for heating or cooling purposes
• To a vehicle which requires the engine of their vehicle running for refrigeration purposes
• To a vehicle broken down and awaiting recovery or if the engine must be on for diagnostic purposes
• To emergency service vehicles Chairman of the city council’s transport committee, Cllr Trevor Muten, said: “Enforcing engine idling is something we hope will deter motorists from releasing harmful emissions unnecessarily. We’re asking those parked up to switch off their engines and reduce air pollution. “It’s about reminding motorists to be considerate of their environment and to do their bit for other people – particularly children, the elderly and the vulnerable.” For an update on this situation see Brighton & Hove Cab Trade View on pages 64-65 where Andrew Peters details how the council has been enforcing this policy.
PHTM FEBRUARY 2024
New Forest DC states: “As part of our draft budget for 2024/25, we are proposing to increase taxi and private hire licence fees to reflect the increased work and costs from implementing national changes in government guidance that we must follow. “This includes new HMRC tax conditionality checks, statutory guidance requirements produced by the DfT, and increased driver DBS checks. “This is the first proposed increase to fees since 2017.” The proposed fees can be found here:
http://tinyurl.com/33krbbj5 Responses must be received by midnight on Thursday 8 February 2024. The Taxi and Private Hire Policy consultation can be found here:
http://tinyurl.com/mvym37x2 Responses must be submitted before midnight on Friday 15 March 2024.
EAST SUFFOLK: CHANGE TO ‘UNFIT TAXI’ LOOPHOLE
A new policy targeting a loophole allowing unfit taxi drivers to re-apply for a licence has been approved. On 15 January members of East Suffolk’s licensing committee unanimously agreed to approve a policy which changed the council’s hackney carriage and private hire licensing policy. The change happened after councillors were told of unfit taxi drivers who tried to exploit a loophole and attempted to get a new licence. They heard, for instance, of a recent taxi driver who, after they had been found unfit to hold a licence, missed their deadline for an appeal and instead contacted the licensing team to apply again. Cllr Jan Candy, cabinet member for community health, said: “It’s not a good use of time and resources to allow reapplications from applicants who have already been found to be unfit.” Under the new policy, those who are found unfit will not be able to apply for another licence within 12 months of the decision, unless there are substantial and proven material circumstances to the applicant’s circumstances. The council report also read: “In setting out its policy, the council seeks to promote the protection and safety of the public, safeguarding children and the vulnerable.”
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