It was reported in the Bristol Evening Post(2/3/01) that a taxi driver was taken to court for over charging two customers a total of 60p.

The case was said to have cost in the region of £3000.

Whilst I agree that overcharging must be stopped, I do think that ratepayers money could have been saved by dealing with this in another way.

The part of this case that I am most concerned about is that,

The driver was also accused of unnecessarily prolonging a journey by keeping the meter running while another customer changed a £10 note in a garage shop.

I find this case worrying as in my opinion it is not the responsibility of the driver to carry change for any notes that a passenger might come up with.

In these days of ATM that dish out £20 notes all day long, and customers give them to you expecting £17 change. How are drivers expected to cope with small fares and big notes. I do not think a driver should be expected to give his time for free, while the person who owes him money arranges their finances. Would a bank?, or indeed the City Council.

I hope that this case does not set a new trend of drivers being taken to court for not having change, whatever next.

The driver was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £400 council costs.

A quote from a barrister.

"There is no legal right to demand change.

When I owe you , say £5.55 . I am under a duty to hand over exactly that sum. It is for me to find notes or coins of the correct denomination - not you , my creditor. "