ISLANDERS offering unlicensed transport for cash are becoming more “brazen” in doing so, according to the Jersey Taxi Drivers Association, with one estimate valuing the illegal trade at £1 million per year.
JTDA secretary Mick Tostevin said he feared it would take a serious accident or crime to occur before the authorities cracked down on the issue.
The JTDA has for many years expressed concerns over the use of online forums such as Jersey Lifts, where Islanders without the relevant licences, background checks or insurance can post that they are available to offer transport for cash.
A concerned taxi driver, who wished to remain anonymous, recently told the JEP they estimated that Jersey’s illegal lifts industry could be taking as much as £1million per year.
Mr Tostevin said the true figure was “difficult to quantify”, but stressed that some perpetrators were “earning a living from this”.
“They are becoming more brazen,” he added, recalling seeing a social media post in which an Islander was branding his service the “cheapest in Jersey” at £9 per journey.
One Islander, who also wished to remain anonymous, said they had often used Jersey Lifts to make as much as £300 in a single night.
“It’s very easy to make at least £100 or more doing lifts on a Friday or Saturday,” they said.
“With social media now it’s very easy to tell people that you’re going to be doing lifts on a given night, that way they can just message you directly to arrange the pick-up, how many people etcetera.
“I never worried about the legal aspect of it, because it never seemed like something that could be proven or that the police were trying to crack down on.”
Mr Tostevin reiterated the JTDA’s frustration over the lack of prosecutions of those operating services outside of the law.
“The saddest thing of all is that I’m sure it’s going to take a really serious accident with people being killed, or a rape or something like that for somebody to finally go ‘actually, this is wrong’.
“None of these people are checked.”
Home Affairs Minister Mary Le Hegarat said: “I take the issue of Jersey Lifts seriously and I am aware that States of Jersey Police officers regularly interact with drivers and passengers to explain the risks involved.”
She continued: “Whether it’s someone taking a journey in an unlicensed vehicle where the driver has not been properly vetted or driving without the relevant insurance coverage – both parties are engaged in risky behaviours.
“I would encourage Islanders to take the safer option when travelling.
“Jersey has a well-regulated taxi provision in place, and I will continue to work with police, taxi drivers, DVS and other ministers to address this issue.”
