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- Taxi Licensing
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Licensing Unit
Environmental Health
Worthing Borough Council
Portland House
Worthing
West Sussex
BN11 1HS - 01903 221432
- taxi.licensing@worthing.gov.uk
Worthing Borough Council through the Licensing Unit is responsible for the licensing of all the taxis operating in the borough. This includes Hackney Carriages and Private Hire vehicles, together with their drivers, and Private Hire operators.
Licences are issued subject to conditions and the Licensing Unit takes steps to ensure that the relevant legislation and conditions are met. Steps are also taken to ensure that unlicensed vehicles and drivers are detected and prevented from operating. Breaches of Taxi legislation need to be addressed and in certain circumstances may result in prosecution. Licensing is about public safety and because an unlicensed vehicle and driver have not been checked to ensure standards have been met enforcement action can become necessary to safeguard the public.
All licensed vehicles are checked for mechancal fitness at least once every year, and may be checked up to three times. They are also liable for spot checks at any time. This ensures that Worthing Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles are safe to be used. The driver has to meet minimum standards of character and health to be a "fit and proper person" and be granted a licence. This includes regular checks by the Criminal Record Bureau and a Doctor. All these steps are essential to keep the public safe and safeguard the reputation of the industry.
Once a vehicle has been licensed, it is issued with a licence plate, fitted to the rear of the vehicle near the number plate, door plates showing the licence number fixed to the rear doors, and an internal plate which must be displayed in the top left hand corner of the windscreen, so that it may be seen from the front of the vehicle and by passengers in the vehicle. A driver is issued with a photographic ID card. This must be worn at all times when he is driving a licensed vehicle. The proof of licence is the public's guarantee that they are using a safe and reputable means of transport.
Out-of-Hours contact number, for use by licensed drivers only.
When the licensing unit is closed for an extended period, such as Easter, Christmas and New Year, you may telephone 07810 771 543. This number is not continuously monitored and you should be ready to leave your name and a contact number, together with a description of your problem. You may have to wait for a response. It will not be possible to issue new licences, plates or badges while the office remains closed amd the Officer who responds will not deal with routine matters which should have been dealt with before the office closed for the holiday. He may be able to give you advice and will note any urgent matters which you are unable to report due to the office closure.
Taxi and Private Hire Handbook, updated. (1st December 2009)
To see the latest issue of the Taxi and Private Hire Handbook, follow the link below. This copy has been posted for the information of all licensed drivers, and the general public. If contains the standard licence conditions for each of the licences we deal with, including the new Restricted and Special Events Private Hire Drivers' Licences, and the new Horse Drawn Omnibus licences. You may freely download a copy, or a hard copy is available at cost from the Licensing Office. New applicants for driver's licences are issued with the relevant parts, as part of the application process.
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