Tipp garda chief urges people to report unlicensed taxis in Tipperary

Overcharging accounted for nearly half of complaints to taxi regulator

placeholder image — Overcharging accounted for nearly half of complaints to taxi regulator

Tipperary Chief Superintendent Colm O’Sullivan is urging people to only use licensed taxi and hackney services.

He told members of the Tipperary Joint Policing Committee that all hackney and taxi drivers must have a licence, and that there is an app customers can use to check.

Chief Superintendent O’Sullivan said there are also inspectors around checking licences.

“Anyone driving a taxi must have a licence in full view for the person in the car,” said Chief Supt O’Sullivan. All licences have the driver’s photo on them and a licence number. He said a person cannot get a licence if they have a serious conviction.

And he said that if a member of the public comes across an unlicensed taxi, it should be reported to the taxi regulator. Councillor Ger Darcy raised the difficulties in getting a taxi saying there is a ‘huge shortage’ of drivers.

LICENCING

The National Transport Authority says a person must meet other criteria to apply for a licence to drive a taxi, hackney or limousine.

A person must be up to date on their tax, has held a full driving licence for at least 12 months and holds a SPSV test certificate.

A€250 SPSV driver licence application fee also applies.

DRIVER CHECK APP

The app the Chief Superintendent was referring to is called TFI Driver Check App and it is 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 (Small Public Service Vehicles) drivers are covered by the app.