The facts and figures of the taxi industry
SPV licences at November 2000 - 13,637
Number of SPV licences issued since deregulation
2001 - 16,547
2002 - 18,252
2003 - 19,856
2004 - 20,744
2005 - 21,888
2006 - 21,707
2007 - 25,695
2008 - 27,311 (to November 30th)
Current total:2008 - 46,583
Prosecutions
Prosecutions began in mid 2007
2007
17 prosecutions for 24 offences
3 got the probation act
€9,400 in fines to the Exchequer
€6,000 costs awarded to regulator.
2008
92 prosecutions for 105 offences
8 got the probation act
€69,275 in fines
€24,900 in costs.
Percentage breakdown of prosecutions taken in 2008
51 per cent no vehicle licence
33 per cent to driver licence
1 per cent operating without satisfactory knowledge of area
1 per cent per cent not behaving in a civil manner
3 per cent overcharging
1 per cent refusing to take a fare under 30km
5 per cent standing for hire outside of a taxi rank
1 per cent unauthorised information on roof signs
2 per cent failure to operate a meter
1 per cent failure to print a receipt
1 per cent hackney plying for hire