We carry out vehicle stop and checks on taxis to make sure the licence conditions are being met. If any of the conditions have been broken, the offence can carry a maximum fine of between £400 and £5000. In some cases the offence also includes a minimum of six to eight points on your licence.
Licences
The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 includes the following:
- Section 48 requires all vehicles seating eight passengers or less used for hire and reward must have a hackney carriage/private hire vehicle licence.
- Section 51 requires any drivers of such vehicles to hold a current private hire and/or hackney carriage driver's licence.
- Section 55 requires that all businesses operating as a private hire service must hold a private hire operator licence.
We carry out test purchases throughout Barnsley. Anyone found to be operating without the correct licences as required by law may be subject to prosecution.
Illegal taxis
We look into all reports of illegal taxis. This includes reports of people offering a taxi service or cheap lifts on social media.
If you know or suspect someone of driving an illegal taxi, please tell us by filling in our online form.