Taxi drivers could face written warnings for looking scruffy after a council said it would implement a dress code for cabbies.
Discolored attire, baseball hats, and sleeveless shirts are prohibited for hackney carriage and private hire drivers according to Welsh government guidelines.
Individuals seen with soiled attire, shorts reaching above the knees, or flip-flops might face disciplinary action, as reported at Conwy County’s licensing committee meeting on Tuesday.
Chris O'Neil, who owns Premier Cars in Bangor, stated that it was inappropriate for a council to "prescribe" what drivers were allowed or not allowed to wear.
"Being sensible and organized is perfectly fine with me," stated Mr O'Neil, who discontinued his taxi service in Llandudno after a period of 16 months.
But he asked: "Who is given the authority to say if you look clean or dirty?"
The committee approved the guidelines for a dress code along with a new set of regulations focusing on driver behavior and ensuring that their vehicles remain clean and orderly.
Sharon Doleman, a Glan Conwy councilor, described the guidelines as "subjective" and challenging to implement.
Will there be random inspections, or will it depend on customers noticing that a taxi driver is untidy or wearing incorrect footwear and then filing a complaint?
John Donnelly, the licensing officer, mentioned that the driver who broke the rules would receive a written warning.
He clarified that when a driver behaves improperly, we address the driver directly, especially in cases involving hackney carriages since they might be individual owners.
Drivers working privately might operate independently yet still be subcontracted under a private hire company.
Should this issue persist, we would proceed to the next stage and likely engage the operator or employer.
Cabbie dress code
According to the new dress code:
- All clothing must be clean, in good condition, and free from damage
- Shorts and skirts should not be shorter than knee-length.
- The footwear needs to fit properly around the heel area of the foot.
- Hoods should not be placed over the head when operating a vehicle.
Unacceptable clothing includes:
- Apparel featuring slogans or images that are deemed offensive or risqué.
- Wearables that are soiled, odorous, dulled, or impaired
- Shoes like flip-flops or sliders that lack rear straps
- Pronounced heels
- Baseball caps or other head coverings that hide the face
- Clothing that leaves the shoulders and top of the arms uncovered such as vest tops
- Clothing that does not cover the chest, stomach/midriff, such as low-cut tops or crop tops.
Mr O'Neil stated that he supported the restriction against wearing shirts with offensive remarks, yet he challenged the decision to prohibit baseball caps.
"He mentioned, 'We sport baseball caps during summertime because it gets quite sunny,'" he explained.
The transportation secretary Ken Skates expressed his approval over the council’s decision to establish their own licensing criteria for taxi and private hire vehicle operators.
In 2021, we released optional guidelines designed to improve consistency in taxi and private hire vehicle regulations throughout Wales.
Guidance on dress code requirements for drivers is included as well.
A preliminary policy document featuring the newly suggested regulations is scheduled to be submitted to the licensing committee in September.
- Cab drivers issued licenses even with prior offenses
- Proposal for Taxi Drivers to Carry Stab Wound Dressings
- The city's taxi drivers are demanding an increase in fare prices.
- Ban on jeans and t-shirts for taxi drivers
- Cab drivers instructed on attire and conduct guidelines
- Ban on taxi drivers wearing shorts
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