Cap on sky high taxi fares

Thursday 03 July 2014

All the Island’s taxi drivers have been told there will soon be a cap on the fares they can charge.

The Transport Minister has written to all taxi-cab companies, the Jersey Taxi Drivers Association and the Jersey Cab Drivers Association to let them know he plans to set an industry-wide maximum fare tariff for all taxi-cabs.

More than 90% of Islanders who took part in a recent consultation support Deputy Kevin Lewis’ plans and so do both the Jersey Cab Drivers Association and the Jersey Taxi Drivers Association.

Deputy Lewis said the consultation flagged up the fact that most customers are confused about the two types of taxi for hire in Jersey and the different fares that they charge.

The system in Jersey is confused by the fact that there are separate systems for taxis and cabs. Cabs (with white signs on their roofs) can be booked and will pick you up from your door, while taxis (which have yellow signs) pick up passengers from ranks at the airport and harbour and from several locations in town. They have four fixed tariff rates depending on the time and day.

Deputy Lewis will be presenting his report to the States before the election in October.