Taxi drivers have threatened strike action after a scathing attack on some "appalling" driving standards by the leader of Bradford Council.

The call came as the Telegraph & Argus learned that nearly 700 fines were handed out in a year disciplining drivers for breaking strict Council rules.

Councillor Kris Hopkins urged law-abiding cabbies to challenge their colleagues about their driving in an attempt to raise standards.

Coun Hopkins made the remarks to representatives of private hire firms during a meeting in Keighley. Drivers had wanted to challenge the Council about what they perceived to be unfair rules and regulations.

They said the disciplinary points system was far too stringent and should be raised to nine.

And they claimed they were being harassed by over-zealous officers from the Council's taxi licensing department who fined them instantly for minor faults with their cars or for not wearing seatbelts.

Cabbies also complained about having to put their vehicles through an extra Council-imposed safety test in addition to the normal MOT, claiming it was just a "money-making ploy".

But the drivers found Coun Hopkins in stubborn mood.

He said: "If we have got a mechanism in place that's not working, I will challenge people about it, but I won't compromise on safety. I want the driving standards of taxi drivers in this district to be the best in the country and the regulations are there to protect the public and raise standards."

He said drivers were professionals who should be aware of speed cameras and all the rules and regulations.

He warned: "If they fail to comply, they will be penalised.

"We want to help private businesses work, but some of the driving standards of the taxi drivers of this district are appalling. It's not a universal problem but you should go away and challenge your colleagues about their driving.

"I have been driving along in 30mph zones and been overtaken by a taxi driver as if their life depends on it. In reality, there's probably only £4.50 at stake."

Shahid Saleem, who drives for Arrows Taxis, said it was possible that drivers could strike over the issue.

"I agree that safety is crucial and we want bad taxi drivers off the roads, but some of the regulations are crazy," he said.

"Private hire drivers in Keighley have just had enough of being harassed by Council officers over minor things like brake lights being out. If the police stop you, you maybe get a warning but with the Council it's a fine straight away.

"The one thing I want to avoid is a strike but the way it's going, I wouldn't rule it out."

David Webster, the Council's head of business services, said the regulations were imposed to ensure the vehicle and their drivers were safe.

"The health and safety of our passengers is of paramount importance," he said.

"If our officers catch a taxi driver breaking the regulations in a minor way, for example not displaying a licensed driver's badge, we issue a £30 fine in the form of an offence notification. We have issued 691 offence notices in the year up to 31 July 2006.

"If the offence is more serious, for example if we are notified they have accumulated six or more points on their driving licence, they are required to appear before a designated Council officer.

"That officer has the power to revoke their licence, shorten their licence subject to no further transgressions, or issue a warning. For the most serious offences, we will revoke their licence, the return of which is dependent on the outcome of any prosecution through the Courts."

Drivers can appeal to the magistrates' court.

Pervez Naik, of Oxford Taxis, raised concerns about the disciplinary appeals system employed by the Council.

He said: "We should go back to the old system where there were two councillors who could hear the appeal. At the moment, we have to go straight to the enforcement officer and many drivers don't think that leads to a fair hearing."

Mr Webster agreed to re-examine that area and look at bringing in an independent person to hear disciplinary appeals involving taxi drivers, rather than simply delegating the power to an officer who, in the drivers' opinion, had the power to act as "judge, jury and executioner".

The latest controversy surrounding taxi drivers comes six months after West Yorkshire Police launched a campaign to target cabbies who break the speed limit, ignore road signs and dodge speeding fines.

At the time, a police spokesman said: "There's a general perception among the public that taxi drivers in Bradford are a law unto themselves."