Andy Peters
Brighton & Hove Cab Trade Association
info@bhcta.co.uk www.bhcta.co.uk
Penalty Points system
Brighton & Hove City Council Licensing recently proposed introducing a points-based system to deal with licensing infringements and general behaviour. I had no hesitation in stating that such a system would not bother me as I have never had such an issue in forty years, nor would I expect to.
I don’t mind admitting that I was one of only a very few who looked at it this way, and whilst I appreciate the concerns of others about the implementation of such a system, in reality drivers/owners/operators can still be penalised with recorded action taken against them.
Additionally, in my mind this would allow a driver a chance to up his/her game on a standardised tariff where all parties would know where they stood. I was also aware that the new techy system that was being introduced would allow for easy
cross-
referencing of records rather than relying on an outdated one.
Examples being that if you didn’t display your badge then that would be one point. If the car you were driving had a tyre below the legal limit, you would get three points and so on. An accumulation of 12 points within a certain time period would then bring in to question a driver’s
necessarily lead to the suspension or revocation of the licence.
However, I put it to a vote to the members of the BHCTA and this was turned down. On that basis I wrote a four-page report against it and at the same time making it clear that such a system would in fact be unfair considering we have hundreds of out-of- town cars working here
out-of-sight and out-of-mind of respective licensing enforcement. 68
PENALTY POINTS SYSTEM
Additionally, the rest of the trade groups also turned this down and made a similar representation.
I did find it odd though that the trade petition raised by specific trade reps also suggested that a six- monthly compliance test could be in place instead on the basis that this would keep standards high. This is a fair enough comment, but was never debated as an idea at the Trade Forum meetings.
So, I am now wondering if Licensing will come back to us and put this to the trade reps based on the principle that over 500 supported the petition with that suggestion which would be very hard to argue against.
What is the old saying? “Be careful what you wish for….”
suitability, but not
Anyway, the points system was debated at great length by the Licensing Committee, with some very odd comments and observations being made. With respect to those councillors, I got the impression that the principle of putting a Penalty Points System in place was not really understood. It may well have been, but that was not the impression that I got.
Nevertheless, whilst the Licensing Officers put up a good case, the Licensing Committee voted 3/7 against the proposal which did surprise me, and some others. However, this did show that the trade was pretty much united on this so should be congratulated by achieved.
whichever means this was MARCH 2024 PHTM
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