Licensing action against taxi drivers regarding handheld card readers
Request ID: FOI-0064-2223 Date published: 19 May 2022
You asked
How many taxi drivers have had licensing action taken against them for using handheld payment card readers, and what has that action been?
We answered
Our ref: FOI-0064-2223/GH
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 12 April 2022 asking for information about licensing action against taxi drivers regarding handheld card readers.
Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require.
Licencing action for the use of handheld payment devices can consist of either a warning letter or a vehicle inspection.
With regards to vehicle inspections, since 31 October 2016, there have been 23 instances of drivers receiving vehicle inspections under the offence of ‘card device unapproved’, which is the most relevant offence to your request.
Warning letters have only been issued to drivers for handheld devices since 2021. Since then, we have issued 5 warnings.
If this is not the information you are looking for, please do not hesitate to contact me.
If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Graham Hurt
FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
