 Taxi drivers did not want to deal with late-night drunks |
Overnight cab rates in Bristol have "substantially" increased because of drunken behaviour. Drivers told Bristol City Council it was not financially viable for them, and it "wasn't worth them taking the hassle" from revellers.
A council spokeswoman told BBC News: "A lot of this was down to anti-social behaviour. It was becoming difficult to get drivers out late at night."
The overnight charges now begin at �3, an increase of more than 10%.
An extra premium on charges will be made on Bank Holidays and at Christmas and New Year.
CCTV trial
The new charges were implemented at a council meeting just before Christmas.
The meeting heard that extra money would not solve the problem of drunken behaviour and it was proposed that a trial roll-out of CCTV cameras in 30 cabs would take place in 2005.
More security measures would also be implemented at the city centre taxi rank at St Augustine's Parade.
The area has been highlighted as a "trouble hotspot", and more CCTV and taxi marshals could be used there.
One objection to the charges was made on the grounds that Bristol was charging substantially more than nearby towns such as Swindon.
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