Taxi Driver Online

FIRE ENGINE LIMO SPARKS OFF A BLAZING ROW

A BLAZING row erupted yesterday after a company which uses converted fire engines as limousines claimed police are trying to force it off the roads.

The Crazy Fire Company supplies the popular novelty limos for special occasions such as hen nights and children’s parties.

But the firm’s future is now in doubt after police told owner Paul Gibson he faces a criminal charge for operating the service without a proper licence.

Officers stopped one of the Crazy Fire Company engines while a group of kids were enjoying a party on board and quizzed the driver.

Days later, police visited the company’s offices in Old Govan Road, Renfrew, and informed Mr Gibson he would be the subject of a report to the Procurator Fiscal.

Mr Gibson claims the charge against him is “ridiculous” as he approached council chiefs more than two years ago when he was starting his business – and was told he didn’t need to have a special licence.

Now he insists his company is being used as a “guinea pig” by police in a bid to “clean up” the limo hire industry.

The 33-year-old businessman told the Paisley Daily Express: “There are a number of companies in the Strathclyde area which operate novelty limos and I believe we are being used as a test case in the hope that local authorities then tighten up their regulations.

“I checked with Renfrewshire Council before the Crazy Fire Company was launched and I was told they didn’t licence the type of vehicles I would be operating.

“Now the police have informed me that I face court action for operating a fire engine for hire and reward with a view to profit without being licensed as a private hire vehicle.

“If I have to obtain a licence, then I’m happy to do that, but I feel like I’m being punished even though I approached the council and was told a licence wasn’t necessary.

“It’s as though my company is being picked on and that’s not fair.”

The Crazy Fire Company operates four fire engine limos and can also cater for parties in a converted American ambulance.

But Mr Gibson fears the fleet of vehicles may be forced off the roads permanently.

He said: “I’m continuing to offer a service to my customers but I don’t know how all of this will pan out.

“I have real concerns that the police will force us off the roads and the business will close down.”

A police spokeswoman confirmed a probe into the operation of novelty limos has been ongoing.

She added: “We have received a complaint and are investigating. A 33-year-old man is the subject of a report to the Procurator Fiscal.

“It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”

A Renfrewshire Council spokesman said: “On the basis of the further information now supplied to us by Mr Gibson, our initial assessment is that his vehicles need to have a private hire licence for the purpose for which they are being used. Therefore, we have asked Mr Gibson to apply for a licence.

“We aren’t aware of any other fire engine or ambulance-type vehicles operating a limousine service in Renfrewshire. If any companies are operating those type of vehicles, we would ask them to contact our licensing team for advice.”

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IDFIMH

Oh dear, what a f***ing shame.

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IDFIMH

lol, it's nice too see someone is finally dealing with this anomaly outside of London. It's a pity the rest of the enforcement services in the UK can't do the same.

Regards

JD

This is presumably the same guy who, when we featured the CFC in 2003, said in response:

DO YOU THINK THE POLICE WOULD LET US DRIVE VEHICLES THAT ARE UNLICENCED

and

The copmanies operating illigaly is up to the police ,because hell strathclyde and lothion police know the law as we worked closely with them.

But when we challenged him as to what license he operated under (and contacted the Traffic Commissioners) he wasn't able to tell us.

(see thread below)

Having said that, I have some sympathy with them, because the authorities effectively turned a blind eye to these things initially, and while some have taken action, some like in this area are coming to the came a bit late, while others are still doing nothing.

Once again symptomatic of the regulatory mishmash throughout the UK.

http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=175

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Now I was going to dig that out, but then I thought I knew a man that would.

Still as JD says, it nice to see a council doing their job. But they may be ok licensing the driver, but I can't wait to see the engine up on the ramps.

But saying that, good old Wealden licenses one.

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IDFIMH

Well done Sussex for finding that one, I live in the area & never new about this development

I does however seem unfair that this particular operator is being targeted when there are many other operators in this licensing area doing the same

http://www.fireenginelimo.co.uk/ is according to the thomson local based in Paisley but the authorities don't seem to know about this one

While in the past local councils seem to have turned a blind eye to these operators I think that the recent recommendations from the task group set up by the Scottish Executive to look at licensing law may have forced them to look at the issue again

The Task Group concluded that the provisions contained at section 23 of the Act, including the definitions of "taxi" and "private hire car", remain appropriate. However, in view of the concerns expressed about "unregulated vehicles", e.g. limousines, converted fire engines and ambulances, etc, and in the absence of any other mechanism to license such vehicles and their drivers, we recommend that the Executive issues guidance to licensing authorities encouraging them to adapt their existing licensing scheme to regulate those vehicles which fall within the definition of phc. In doing so, it follows that the drivers of such vehicles should also be covered by the licensing regime. To assist licensing authorities in doing so, we further recommend that SOLAR be asked to draw up model conditions for the various non-standard vehicles that fall within the definition of "private hire car" and that these be incorporated within the guidance. Finally, that Scottish Ministers review the position two years after the guidance and model conditions has been issued with a view to determining whether the concerns over "unregulated vehicles" have been adequately addressed.

All the best

I think they have to start with someone, and hopefully when they finish with this mush, they can start on the others.

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IDFIMH

I just typed 'fire limo' into Google & found this

http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/sedo ... leid=88929

http://www.absolutefirelimo.co.uk/index.html

Government quangos really should know better

It just goes to show how ignorant of the law people are

All the best