Only one person was convicted of operating an unlicensed taxi in Tipperary last year

The National Transport (NTA) received just one formal complaint about unlicensed taxi drivers in Tipperary last year.
According to figures released to the Tipperary Star under the Freedom of Information Act, that complaint resulted in a conviction.

The individual was fined €700 and ordered to pay the NTA €300 in costs. We made the request following the June sitting of the Tipperary Joint Policing Committee.

At the meeting, Chief Superintendent Colm O’Sullivan asked the public to report unlicensed taxi and hackney operators.
He also said inspectors were active in the county.

A BIG DIFFERENCE

Along with the requested figures, the NTA provided a letter outlining some issues, as well as some additional information regarding illegal taxis.

According to the NTA, licensing of drivers is the purview of An Garda Síochána while they are responsible for the licensing of the vehicles.

They said that in 2022, they prosecuted 14 cases of unlicensed vehicles nationwide out of 100 related to the operation of unlicensed Small Public Service Vehicles (SPSVs).

“An ‘unlicensed taxi’ where a vehicle is displaying full taxi signage and yet is not licensed occurs in a minority of cases, and when it does, it tends to be either a previously operating beyond the licence expiry date or a new vehicle operating before it has passed the NTA licensing inspection,” said the NTA.

However, the NTA says there is a difference between an unlicensed taxi described above and private cars being used for hire and reward.

“Unlawful use of a private vehicle, advertised, either locally or through online presence, are reported to the NTA and are often called ‘illegal’ or “unlicensed’ taxis.”

“These are not taxis. They cannot be hired from the street and do not display any sign that the vehicle is for hire. These are simply private vehicles, without any signage, offering unlicensed services.

“These offences will encompass an unlicensed vehicle and driver,” said the NTA.
In 2022, the NTA prosecuted 54 of these cases nationwide.

MAKING A COMPLAINT

The NTA say they require a person making a complaint to provide evidence of the offence or sufficient information for the NTA or gardaí to investigate.

The minimum information required is the place where the driver was operating, method of hire, i.e. phone, online etc and some information about the person.

If the person cannot or is unwilling to provide the information, the NTA will attempt with the local gardaí to conduct a covert investigation. But without evidence the NTA cannot pursue the allegation.
APP

At the June sitting of the Tipperary JPC, the Chief Superintendent advised people using taxis to download the TFI Driver Check App, managed by Transport for Ireland.

Passengers can check if their driver is registered, compare the driver to their photo, and if necessary, make a report.

Passengers can also forward the driver’s information to a friend.

All taxis, hackneys, limousines and SPSV drivers are covered by the app.