Rank taxis target fares charged by private cabs

Tuesday 10 January 2017

The President of the Jersey Taxi Drivers Association has warned transport minister Eddie Noel that his members have drawn a line in the sand over the control of private hire taxi cabs on the Island.

Mick Tostevin was elected President of the association for a new twelve-month term last night at a meeting at Fort Regent. He beat the only rival for the position, Chris Gray, by 42 votes to 24. The association has 88 members in total.

Mr Tostevin said he is eager to take up the challenge set by the minister who has promised drivers a “window of opportunity” to take part in shaping their own future.

Mr Tostevin said: “We have had many hours of meetings - we must have had 30 hours of discussions in the last two years. Change comes more slowly than Eddie thinks. We are now moving into the crucial area of tariffs and fares. I will take the feedback from the members tonight to the Minister.”

Mr Tostevin said he has been told that a meeting will take place early this year between the police and the Department for Infrastructure to discuss the issue of the 'Jersey Lifts' Facebook group. The online group was set up four years ago allowing islanders to advertise lifts in exchange for cash. It is predominantly used by 18-25 year olds. Fears were sparked last week when an 18-year-old girl shared her story of one user who messaged her inappropriately for months after having given her a lift.

Mr Tostevin said: “We have been told a meeting will take place. We hope it happens before the end of this month.”

But he insisted the biggest issue to be resolved was how to control private hire cabs.

He said: “The $64,000 question has always been how we get control of the fares charged by private hire drivers. The Minister was going to do that. All we are saying is “bring it on". I could feel the atmosphere in the room tonight - enough is enough. We have drawn a line in the sand.”