23/01/2013

Taxi Drivers With Serious Convictions To Face Disqualification

Under the new Taxi Regulation Bill, taxi drivers with serious criminal convictions will face mandatory disqualification.

Around 6,000 people with SPFV licences who are driving taxis have some form of criminal conviction, according to Minister of State Alan Kelly.

"Many of them are minor (convictions), but there is a number of people out there driving taxis today who should not be driving taxis," Mr Kelly told RTÉ's Morning Ireland.

The Taxi Regulation Bill 2013, which is being preparing for presentation to the Seanad, would bring in lifetime bans for murder, manslaughter, rape, terrorism and other serious crimes.

Convictions such as burglary, firearms offences, serious assault and harassment would incur temporary bans.

Gardaí will have the power to refuse to renew a licence if they are of the view that the person "has a character of an unsavoury kind" or if they are believed to be "a danger to the public".

Drivers will have 12 months to appeal a ban.

Mr Kelly also confirmed that a demerit system, similar to the penalty point system, will be introduced

(H)


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