Three months after the Senate vetoed a bill which would have forced the taxi industry to adopt computerised dispatching technology, cabbies continue to have problems with how the industry is regulated.

"It's not that we don't want to work with the Transportation Board but some of their requests are unreasonable the way we see it right now," said Lee Tucker, president of the Bermuda Taxi Operators Association (BTOA).

According to Mr. Tucker, the drivers decided at a meeting on Monday night that they will no longer abandon regular passengers waiting at the airport to transport others waiting to be picked up by limousine services Bermuda Hosts and Beeline.

He said that drivers too often took the blame for shortages caused when the limousines services failed to deliver.

"Our first priority is to serve the passengers on the platform and if the limousine services require cars they should go to the dispatching service."

And drivers will stop accepting cash redeemable vouchers for the limousine business.

"The airport manager gave them additional bus permits recently but there will always be a case when they will be looking for a taxi and we feel it is unjust for us to serve their needs while ignoring our passengers."

Drivers are concerned about Transport Ministry directives that the cars have to be on the road 16 hours a day, because they find it difficult to find relief drivers. Mr. Tucker said that, while the Transport Control Department (TCD) can call cabbies in if they are not on the road for the required amount of time, the penalty for not obeying the rule has not been made clear.

Another bone of contention is being forced to take every job assigned by a dispatch company. "We don't feel we should be compelled to go to an area if we feel we are in jeopardy. Some drivers may not want to go if they have been assaulted there before or if they are picking up a passenger who has assaulted them."

And drivers also have problems with having to report back to the dispatcher every time they complete a job. The requirement wastes time that could be better spent doing another job and creates more work for the dispatching service, Mr. Tucker said.

"These issues may be minor to the average bystander but are major ones for the operators," he added.

The "vast majority" of taxis are now complying with the law which requires them to have two way radios installed and be subscribed to a dispatching service, Mr. Tucker added.

He said the drivers are now seeking a meeting with TCD director Kevin Monkman and the Transportation Board.

But Mr. Tucker added that the ultimate solution would be to conduct an inquiry to examine the problems of the industry.

Kevin Monkman could not be reached for comment yesterday.