Taxi drivers could be forced to accept card payments despite warnings against drunk students running off without paying.

Colchester Council’s licensing committee has approved a six-week consultation for plans to require drivers to fit their vehicles with means to accept electronic payments in addition to cash.

According to a council report, the authority has received complaints about taxis not being able to take card payments.

But at a meeting last week drivers warned cash-only payments can safeguard against “runners”, and raised issues about network blackspots and the cost of payment devices to drivers, expected to be in the region of £100.

Dave Daniel, a taxi driver of 44 years, told the meeting he asks customers for cash payments in advance to stop passengers running off without paying.

He said: “The majority of passengers we transport are drunk out of their brains or drugged up or both. There are an increasing number of passengers who have no intention of paying to get home.”

Mr Daniel, who works mostly in the High Street at night, said he picked up two young men last week without taking cash in advance, who he claims pretended to be sick in a bid to open the door of the cab and avoid paying.

He said: “Taxi drivers are very poorly paid and I think it is unreasonable to expect them to have all the latest technology.”

Two other taxi drivers at the meeting expressed support for making an option to pay by card compulsory, but said there were often network problems with card readers, which have difficulty connecting in areas of low signal. 

Jon Ruder, the council’s licensing and food safety manager, said if people came forward with other methods of payment during the consultation then they would be considered.

He also acknowledged issues with people not paying but said it was a police matter, describing it as “theft”.

Councillor Roger Mannion said: “I’m a little bit concerned about the reluctance of the drivers to take machines and it does seem to be that there is some reluctance. I would have thought that it’s safer not to have to carry bags and bags of cash, particularly on the night runs.”

The plans will now go to consultation with the local taxi trade, before returning to the committee for approval.