There is a distinct difference between the way in which an officially licensed Hackney Carriage Taxi and a Private Hire vehicle is able to carry passengers, and this can be quite confusing for the general public. By law a Hackney Carriage Taxi - which in Southampton are all white in colour - are allowed to pick up passengers when hailed from the street and also ply for trade using one of the official taxi ranks in and around the city centre. However, Private Hire vehicles must always be pre-booked, and must not pick up people without a booking as they are not insured to do so.

 

The Police and Southampton City Council work hard to ensure members of the public are kept safe when travelling around the city. Recently the Licensing Office, who are in charge of Taxi's and Private Hire vehicles have recently revoked a private hire drivers' licence. Part of the reason was that the driver, picked up a fare from the street without a prior booking, which invalidated their insurance. The police are now pursuing the driver, with the aim of prosecuting for having no insurance.

 

Alongside this, Southampton City Council licencing staff have carried out an undercover operation to test Private Hire drivers to see if they would take a fare without a booking. Two drivers acted properly refusing the offer of work, and gave proper directions to the officers to use a white Hackney Carriage taxi or pre-book a Private Hire vehicle.  However, two drivers did accept bookings which has resulted in their insurance being invalidated, the Council are preparing prosecution papers against these drivers. Apparently, any future misdemeanour's may result in revocation of their licence.

 

Southampton City Council have  warned the operator of the Private Hire company that any future breaches on any condition of regulations may result in the Company operators' licence to be revoked.

 

It is very unfortunate that a percentage of Private Hire drivers in Southampton act as if they are Hackney Carriages, picking up passengers wherever they wish. This is not the case, if you wish to travel safely, in an insured car always remember that only the white licensed Hackney Carriage Taxis in Southampton are lawfully allowed to pick you up from the street. For your safety, look for the official red licensed Hackney Carriage plate and the taxi sign on the roof on the white taxi's in around and the city: