Taxi Driver Online

The law commission will publisher their report on their website
www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk later today.
Link does not currently work ? But I assume it will.

They did say they would publish the responses they received Spring 2013, so maybe that's what we will see.

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IDFIMH

I can see nowt about it..

Clearly the birdy is an English one.

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IDFIMH

Shouldnt be invisible though...

That's just what they want you to think

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

It's nice to see that the LC still pop in every now then

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Law Commission sets out early thinking on reforms for the taxi and private hire trades

09 April 2013


Following an extensive consultation on the regulations governing taxis and mini-cabs (private hire vehicles), the Law Commission has announced, in an interim statement, a change of direction on two key proposals: setting restrictions on local taxi numbers, and licensing for wedding cars.

The Commission initially proposed abolishing the right of licensing authorities to restrict the number of taxis permitted to operate in an area. But it has been convinced that the benefits of change are outweighed by the advantages of continuing to allow restrictions. On the one hand, the Commission accepts that restrictions can have a place in combating congestion and over-ranking, and supporting a viable taxi trade to maintain high standards. On the other, there is no compelling evidence that de-restriction reduces fares or has a significant effect on waiting times. It will also recommend that areas where numbers of taxis are now limited should be able to retain their traditional “plate value” systems. If new areas regulate numbers, however, licenses would not be transferrable, preventing plate values from accruing.

The proposal to bring wedding and funeral cars into the same regulatory framework as mini-cabs has also been revisited, and the Commission will be recommending that they retain their statutory exemption from licensing, rather than relying on the Secretary of State or Welsh Ministers to exempt them.

The Commission has restated its commitment to keeping the two-tier system that distinguishes taxis from mini-cabs. It will recommend retaining the local nature of the hackney trade, with only taxis being able to pick up passengers from a rank or on the street (“ply for hire”). Mini-cabs should continue to be restricted to offering a pre-booked service.

Frances Patterson QC, the Law Commissioner leading the project, says: “The legal framework governing the taxi and private hire trades is complex and inconsistent. The purpose of our review is to improve and simplify it, and ensure it is fit for purpose.

“We listened to a great many people during our consultation – drivers, operators, licencing authorities and passengers. They confirmed what we have always believed, that the two-tier system distinguishing taxis and mini-cabs should stay. And they convinced us that the trade and its passengers will benefit if licensing authorities continue to have the power to limit taxi numbers.”

The Commission is half way through its review and expects to make final recommendations for reform to Government at the end of the year. In light of the consultation, which brought in more than 3,000 responses, it has reached a number of other early decisions on what it will recommend, including:
•Applying a national set of standards for mini-cabs.
•Introducing compulsory disability discrimination training for all drivers, and making it a licence condition that drivers should not discriminate against disabled passengers.

Responses to the Commission’s consultation can be found on www.lawcom.gov.uk. The final report, with a draft Bill, will be published at the end of 2013.



Notes for editors
1. The Law Commission is a non-political independent body, set up by Parliament in 1965 to keep all the law of England and Wales under review, and to recommend reform where it is needed.
2. For more details on this project, visit www.lawcom.gov.uk
3. For all press queries please contact:
Phil Hodgson, Head of External Relations: 020 3334 0230
Jackie Samuel: 020 3334 0216
Email: communications@lawcommission.gsi.gov.uk

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Why make it a license condition when it is already statute law?

Or do the taxi/PH trade have an exemption to the 2010 Equalities Act?

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IDFIMH

What about areas that regulate numbers of saloons but not WAV's?

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

And what about areas that issue X amount of plates each year?

And isn't there a law in Scotland about banning of taxi plate transfers?

And how many 100s a year are transferred each year up there?

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IDFIMH