Beware of unlicensed taxi drivers over party season

A warning has been sounded about rogue taxi drivers as the Christmas party season approaches.

Carmarthenshire County Council licensing officers are urging people to stay safe when they use a cab.

They fear unlicensed drivers will be cashing in as growing numbers of people need taxis over the busy festive period.

Cabbies will be in high demand over the coming weeks as partygoers decide to drink and not drive. More people are also out shopping and the cold and wet weather means less will be inclined to walk home or wait at bus stops.

Licensing officers at Carmarthenshire Council have joined forces with the police to raise awareness of the problem and to carry out joint enforcement across the county during this busy period.

Residents are being warned they are not insured if they travel in an unlicensed cab, and people are being urged to check out cars and their drivers before they get in.

Licensed drivers will have been DBS checked, trained on how to safeguard members of the public, and should always wear identification badges.

Taxis are usually parked at known ranks, or their numbers can be found in various directories online.

Hackney carriages, which can be flagged down by the roadside, always have a roof sign, which is illuminated when they are available for hire.

They also display two identifying white door stickers and a white plate on the back bumper.

Taxis should display a list of fares for passengers and be fitted with meters, which should always begin with an initial charge of £2.20 before 10pm and £2.40 afterwards.

Private hire vehicles can only be pre-booked and not stopped in the street.

They carry two identifying yellow door stickers and a yellow plate on the back bumper.

Christmas party season approaches.

Carmarthenshire County Council licensing officers are urging people to stay safe when they use a cab.

They fear unlicensed drivers will be cashing in as growing numbers of people need taxis over the busy festive period.

Cabbies will be in high demand over the coming weeks as partygoers decide to drink and not drive. More people are also out shopping and the cold and wet weather means less will be inclined to walk home or wait at bus stops.

Licensing officers at Carmarthenshire Council have joined forces with the police to raise awareness of the problem and to carry out joint enforcement across the county during this busy period.

Residents are being warned they are not insured if they travel in an unlicensed cab, and people are being urged to check out cars and their drivers before they get in.

Licensed drivers will have been DBS checked, trained on how to safeguard members of the public, and should always wear identification badges.

Taxis are usually parked at known ranks, or their numbers can be found in various directories online.

Hackney carriages, which can be flagged down by the roadside, always have a roof sign, which is illuminated when they are available for hire.

They also display two identifying white door stickers and a white plate on the back bumper.

Taxis should display a list of fares for passengers and be fitted with meters, which should always begin with an initial charge of £2.20 before 10pm and £2.40 afterwards.

Private hire vehicles can only be pre-booked and not stopped in the street.

They carry two identifying yellow door stickers and a yellow plate on the back bumper.