Taxi drivers will NOT be liable for passengers failing to wear masks, says Liverpool City Council
Liverpool City Council have confirmed that taxi and private hire vehicle drivers will not be liable of an offence should they carry a passenger not wearing a face mask.
Face coverings have now become mandatory for taxi and private hire passengers after Tuesday’s announcement by Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.
In a statement detailing the new measures, Liverpool City Council (LCC) Licensing's Kevin Johnson said: ”For the avoidance of doubt a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Vehicle driver will NOT commit an offence by carrying a passenger who is not wearing a face covering.”
The penalty for passengers failing to wear a face covering will be £200 for a first offence, doubling each time to a maximum fine of £6,400. This is in line with penalties for breaking the rule of six.
The Merseyside licensing authority also made reference to the fact that whilst taxi and private hire passengers are now legally permitted to wear face coverings, taxi drivers remain exempt from the legal requirement.
LCC said: “For the avoidance of doubt this legal requirement does not apply to the driver of the Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Vehicle - the current Government Guidance is that face covering should be worn by drivers but this is advisory only and not a legal requirement.”
According to DfT sources, like all transport workers, taxi drivers are not legally required to wear a face covering while in their workplace, but are urged to wear face masks where possible.
The Department did however continue advising drivers to wear a face covering when they are unable to maintain social distancing in passenger facing roles.
