Private Hire Taxi Laws

Against the background of these trends and in connection with Transport for London, at the end of last year we discussed with Talk London members and others whether the rules for private hire and taxi traffic should also be up-dated. A number of actions to improve passengers' security and private hire standard, as well as to reduce environmental degradation, received considerable encouragement.

There are also new actions affecting the London fare evasion trade: from new zero-emission rankings to the end of new licences for fuel cabs from 2018, to assistance with the use of the latest reservation technologies and the opening of additional coach tracks for their use.

Legal Affairs Commission plans to introduce rules for taxis and private rentals

As the Law Commission finalises its proposals for changes to the UK taxi fee, domestic norms for private car rental and driving licences seem to be becoming more and more likely. Jessica Uggucioni, members of the Law Commission's Consultative Body for the Taxi and Private Rental Industry, spoke at last month's London Colloquium of the License Private Hire and Chauffeur Association.

It would also make it simpler for drivers and private landlords to procure substitute or extra vehicle at shorter notice, as it would no longer be necessary to re-licence a vehicle already registered for use as a Phytosanitary vehicle in another sector. This would already comply with domestic norms.

That would allow producers to expand spare car components from driver schemes to any carrier and not only to London, as is currently the case for some driver schemes. Law Commission officers also stated that they are seeking liberalisation of the markets by removing barriers to cross-border trade - which means that any authorised trader can do trade in any part of the state.

"There is no need to limit operator to certain areas when norms become national," Gray added. "It would make it easy for travellers to move across frontiers and outside London managers could be able to subcontract outside their area. Landlords should indicate a stated fares in advance, she added.

"This is the London location - it's good and should be adopted nationally," she said.