Meter and Receipt Information
New National Taxi Fare
Introduction
Following from a comprehensive review of current fare structures
across the country, the Commission has introduced a new National Taxi Fare
which will become effective from the 25th September 2006. This document
provides technical guidance to meter programmers, installers and other
interested parties in relation to meter and other related information.
The following general documentation in relation the new National Fare Structure is available on the Commission’s website www.taxiregulator.ie:
- National Taxi Fare information sheet – which provides an explanation of the new national taxi fare aimed at service providers and consumers, and
- A Review of Taxi Fares and Taxi Fare Structures – which provides the background research and recommendations which arose from the review.
A further document, Driving Forward: Action Plan 2006-2007 highlights other key changes being introduced by the Commission. These changes have been considered and will be introduced in accordance with regulatory best practice, but also with a view to meeting the Commission’s mission to achieve a first class, professional, efficient, safe and accessible, customer-friendly service, for small public service vehicle passengers and service providers alike.
A key component in meeting this objective will be strengthened enforcement of existing and future regulations by the Commission for Taxi Regulation through its authorised officers. Much of the requirements detailed in this document will support this function.
Meter Programming Information
From the 25th September 2006, until further notice, the charge
for taxi travel will be uniform throughout the country. The structure of the
fare will include an initial charge (previously referred to in Ireland as the
Minimum Fare) that contains both a time and distance allowance. Further travel
beyond the initial charge will be based on a graduated structure of three
tariffs. The graduated structure will allow all journeys to be appropriately
charged. Journeys that are short in distance and duration will be subject to
Tariff A, the lowest rate. For medium length journeys, the latter stages of
the trip will be charged at a higher rate: Tariff B. Very long journeys will
have the end of the trip charged at Tariff C, the highest rate.
The standard fare structure will operate by day, while a premium will be attached to travel during unsocial hours. Certain extras will also apply, two of which will be recorded on the meter (additional passengers and booking fee).
A diagram illustrating the main components of the new fare structure and rates
is provided below. This is a simplification of the fare to
assist presentation and awareness for the consumer and should not be used for
programming.
The technical appendices to this document provide schedules on the appropriate parameters for meter programming.
In addition to recording and displaying the appropriate fare, there are other
obligations on taxi-operators that relate to the programming of the meter:
1 Change of hours from Summer Time to Winter Time to be observed on all
meters
2 The inclusion of specified public holidays
3 Minimum information for inclusion on the mandatory printed receipt.
Cap on extra charges
The meter should be set to allow charges to be added to a maximum
of €9.00. This equates to the maximum extras that could be charged on the
meter under the new National Taxi Fare structure (based on a journey involving
a booking fee and seven additional passengers, where the vehicle is licensed
to carry up to 8 persons).
Premium rate
The premium rate will apply between the hours of 20.00 and 08.00
Monday to Saturday, and all day on Sundays and Public Holidays as defined
under the Working Time Act 1997 and set out below.
Table: Public Holidays
Receipt details
From the 25th of September 2006 it will be an offence for a taxi
driver not to provide a receipt to all taxi customers on payment of the taxi
fare in the format prescribed below. Printers should therefore be set to
automatically print a receipt for all taxi journeys. Taxi receipts should
print the following information at a minimum:
1 The receipt number (this should be unique)
2 The new SPSV licence number;
3 The unique vehicle identifier (registration number)
4 The start date of the trip;
5 The distance traveled in kilometres;
6 The start and finish time of the trip;
7 The amount calculated by the meter (broken down into total fare and
extras), and
8 A space highlighted for the manual recording of tips/discounts/tolls,
e.g. Tips / discounts / tolls: _________________
A space to allow calculation of final amount paid (to allow deduction of
discounts or addition of tips or tolls) may be added to the receipt if
desired, for example:
Total paid: __________________
Deadline for programming of new National Taxi Fare
As the new National Taxi Fare is a fundamental change that
replaces existing local authority fare structures, it will be a legal
requirement for all licensed taxi vehicles to ensure that their meter has been
programmed with the new fare and other mandatory information as outlined in
this document in advance of Monday 25th September 2006 in order to operate
from that date. It will be an offence to operate a taxi vehicle on or after
that date without a taximeter calibrated to calculate the new National Taxi
Fare.
The Commission is currently putting in place a new national vehicle licensing system. A key component of the system is the introduction of a single national licence numbering system for all small public service vehicle. Individual vehicle licence holders will be informed of their new vehicle licence number from April 2006 onwards as part of the roll-out of this new system.
In order to minimise cost to individual licence holders / operators, but also to ensure greatest efficiency in the meter verification process, meter installers and programmers are advised, where at all possible, not to programme individual taxi meters until the new vehicle licence number is available to the licence holder.
Testing and verification of new meter programmes
The Commission has worked closely with the Legal Metrology
Service to ensure the technical guidelines provided in this information sheet
are in compliance with the Legal Metrology Service’s current and anticipated
regulations to support national and European statutory requirements.
Once a meter seal has been broken for any reason including re-programming it is a statutory obligation that the meter be verified by Legal Metrology as soon as reasonably possible.
Taximeter installers should arrange an appointment with the Legal Metrology Service to secure approval of new meter programmes prior to any actual re-programming or installation of new programmes takes place, by contacting Legal Metrology Service’s verification centre at Poppintree:.
Legal Metrology Service
Poppintree Industrial Estate
Ballymun
Dublin 11
Tel: + 353 1 864 3848
Further information
Queries in relation to the programming of the new taxi fare or
any other information contained in this information leaflet can be addressed
to:
The Commission for Taxi Regulation,
35 Fitzwilliam Square,
Dublin 2, Ireland.
Telephone: +353 1 6593800
Fax: +353 1 6593801
Email:
commission@taxiregulator.ie
www.taxiregulator.ie
It should be noted that this explanatory leaflet is designed to give practical guidance in relation to the programming of the new national taxi fare that will be given effect by regulation.. It does not purport to be a legal interpretation of the relevant legislation.
A separate document is available from the Commission’s website – www.taxiregulator.ie – or by contacting the Commission as above with guidelines for the presentation of taxi roof signs. Technical
Appendices:
Table: Standard Fare Table:
Premium Fare Table:
Extra charges where relevant
Extra metered charges (where applicable)
Booking fee: €2.00
Each additional passenger after the first passenger €1.00 per additional
adult passenger (or per each additional two children under 12)