Government patience has finally run out with taxi firms and drivers who have not complied with new rules on the compulsory fitting of GPS equipment to taxi cabs.

Last night it was revealed one of the Island?s three taxi firms has been suspended from operating for failing to comply.

But the president of Co-op Taxis remained defiant, stating the company was operating as normal and would continue to do so until written proof of a Government board decision to suspend its licence was delivered to the firm?s office.

A deadline for installing and operating of Global Positioning System equipment ? already postponed from February this year ? was finally reached on August 6.

In a move to clarify who can and who can?t operate a taxi or dispatch service Government has issued a fresh series of instructions.

It also said that, at a meeting last week, the Public Service Vehicle Licencing Board (PSVLB) suspended Co-op Taxi?s licence to operate and will next meet with the company on September 6 to review the its licence again.

The taxi firm has been struggling to supply GPS equipment to its fleet of drivers and last week claimed a shipment of the systems had been held up in Toronto due to circumstances beyond its control. It has around 50 drivers waiting to purchase the equipment.

Co-op Taxi president Alaine Mouchette said she was surprised to hear about the board?s decision.

?We have received no official notification about any ruling and I can?t comment because as far as I?m concerned we are operating as normal,? she said.

?We did have someone at the meeting but there was nothing given to us in writing. Until we have something in black and white we are operating as normal.

?We will have another statement when we have something in writing.?

It appears only the dispatch operation at Co-op Taxis is affected by the latest ruling as drivers subscribing to the firm have been advised that they can continue to operate providing they have GPS or have proof of purchase of the equipment which they are awaiting to be shipped to the Island.

Recent meetings by the PSVLB and the Transport Control Board have resulted in a number of decisions being made to deal with taxi drivers and operators who have yet to compile with the new GPS regulations.

Anyone who has not yet complied is liable to have their permit to operate suspended, although decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Similarly taxi owners and operators who ?by no fault of their own have purchased the equipment and that equipment has failed to arrive? will not be penalised providing they can show proof that they have purchased the equipment, such as a letter from their dispatch company confirming the equipment is on order.

As has previously reported, cab driver Terry Flood, from Devonshire, was summoned before the PSVLB and informed by letter from TCD that he was breaking the law by not having GPS installed in his vehicle.

He said it was not his fault that he has not got one of the tracking systems because Radio Cabs ? the dispatch company he works for ? has not been able to import one in time.

Although he feared the board might order him off the road, Mr. Flood was relieved when he was told during his 15-minute hearing that he will not be penalised as long as he obtains a letter proving that he has a GPS system on order.