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For the second year running, Babergh District Council is advising Christmas and New Year partygoers to ensure their peace of mind by only using licensed taxi or private hire firms for their journeys home.
Information as to whether a driver, vehicle or operator is licensed can be found on Babergh’s website where a constantly updated register is maintained by Council staff.
This register includes licence details of all taxi and private hire vehicles, drivers and operators who are licensed across the District. Each driver’s name and licence number is listed together with when the licence was issued, the valid-from and expiry dates. For Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicles, the registration number, make, model and maximum number of passengers of each vehicle is also included.
Babergh is promoting this advice via posters and leaflets which are due to be distributed throughout the district.
Lee Carvell, Principal Licensing Officer at Babergh, said: “Updates to the online register are made in real time – so whenever we make a change the website is instantly updated. We would encourage everyone to plan ahead and organise their transport before they leave home, to help ensure a happy and safe festive season.”
He added that having ordered a licensed vehicle, revellers should always check to make sure the car and driver that picks them up is the one they ordered. “A licensed vehicle will display a Babergh-issued licence plate both insider and outside of the vehicle and a Babergh licensed driver must wear an identity badge at all times whilst on duty – and the number should be the same as the one referenced on the online register”.
To find out more visit the Council’s website. Under the header 'How do I?' on the right hand side of the homepage, click onto ‘Check a Licence'.
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