Taxi Driver Online

Hi TDO,

The honest answer is that im not entirely clear myself, however here is a number for VOSA sout west region which might be able to answer the questions 0117 954 3200. I have also just looked in the VOSA GUIDE FOR OPERATORS BOOK PSV437 and under the heading.

SMALL VEHICLES SUITABLE FOR CARRYING 8 OR FEWER PASSENGERS
It states
" If you give lifts in a car or take part in a social car scheme run by a local authority you can charge people enough money to cover your running costs(plus general wear) and your car will still be treated as Private hire and not a taxi hire car or PSV."

But you will need a taxi or hire car licence if a licencing system is in force within the area you wish to operate. YOU WILL NOT NEED A PSV!

Due to the fact that Plymouth city council wont licence us then we had no choice but to go through VOSA. Hope this is of more help now, but there is loads of stuff in the handbook which is 40 pages long.

Kind regards

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Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!

I think Mr Kermit might be slightly confused between VOSA who carry out vehicle and drivers hours tacho checks etc and the Traffic Commissioner's office who are the body that issue the actual licence.
Voas themselves only licence mot testing staions and the like.

Hi Mr Tulsa, Like i say im not too hot on all the legal jargin as there is so much of it, and as for VOSA, all i can say is that my licence was issued by VOSA, and i really dont know anything else about them so could not possibly comment any further unfortunately! I'm just glad that your members of this forum have allowed me to have a say and hopefully cleared up some issues

_________________
Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!

http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/aboutvosa/whatwedo.htm

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IDFIMH

Thanks sussex, and that clears that up then

_________________
Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!

So judging by that then, you still have the some say they will and some say they wont brigade, when exactly are these people going to wake up and smell the coffee, stretched limos are here and there here to stay so why dont the government in all areas just give them a level playing field, I dont know many limo ops that are against being licenced as PH or having the relevant checks or indeed having white taxi plates. Who cares they could be pink with purple spots for all we care so long as we all knew we could get them legally and run a safe business without fear of being prosecuted. I still ask the question though what about all the people that are running legally on Restricted operators licences such as myself that are licenced via VOSA. Personally i would have no objection to being licenced as PH by Plymouth City Council, but currently they feel the same way as your latter part of the paper cutting. The Eternal merry go round once again i feel

_________________
Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!

Stretch limousines and other specified vehicles would carry white plates, but no taximeter, and have to undergo detailed safety inspections. Drivers would have to be considered fit and proper persons to hold a licence but would not be required to pass the “street knowledge test.” The report also calls for detailed conditions to be established regarding physical aspects of vehicles and their interior, consumption and storage of alcohol and other factors.

I think Aberdeen have got it just about right.

Checked drivers and checked vehicles.

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IDFIMH

Legislation is urgently needed because limousines are not going to go away. Seat belt law must be amended in line with buses to reflect the purpose and activity that goes on inside these vehicles, not to mention the law on alcohol consumption and sales.

I think although these vehicles can sometimes cause congestion they don't deserved to be banned completely but they do need to have a licensing category and one that can be policed.

Regards

JD

The full report is at http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/acc_data ... 060508.pdf

I noted that Aberdeen apparently require knowledge tests for private hire drivers which is illegal, only taxi drivers can be required to do this

CIVIC GOVERNMENT (SCOTLAND) ACT 1982 CHAPTER 45

PART II LICENSING AND REGULATION--PARTICULAR ACTIVITIES

LICENSING AND REGULATION OF TAXIS AND PRIVATE HIRE CARS

s 13 Taxi and private hire car driving licences.

(5) A licensing authority may require an applicant for a taxi driver's
licence to take a test of his knowledge of the area to which the licence is
to relate, of the layout of roads in that area and such other matters
relating to the operation of a taxi as the authority consider desirable, and
the authority may refuse to grant a licence to a person who does not satisfy
them that he has adequate knowledge of any of these matters.

Certainly not illegal down here, as many councils have conditions saying PH must do the same knowledge as taxis.

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IDFIMH

I wouldnt go holding your breath regarding any new licensing regimes be set up, according to the report following discussions with Grampian Police letters were sent out to operators in 2003 advising them of the law

3 years later & finally tentative steps are being taken to sort out this problem, why the wait ?

Also, the Police have indicated no enforcement action has & will been taken until the licensing system has been finalised

Fair enough but I always thought when Parliament made laws, it was the Polices duty to enforce them, I didnt realize they have such a discretion

Its definitely illegal to insist on knowledge tests for private hire here in Scotland

I lifted this from a Renfrewshire Council document on there own implementation plans for taxi knowledge tests

Renfrewshire Council

To: Regulatory Functions Board

On: 17 March 2004

Report by
Director of Corporate Services

Taxi Licensing - Knowledge Test

1. Summary

1.1 Reference is made to Report to this Board dated 2 October 2003 when the
Board approved, in principle, the introduction of a “knowledge test” for new
applicants for taxi drivers’ licences. The purpose of this Report is to provide
members with details of the proposed test.

3. Report

3.1 Introduction of the test has been the subject of consultation with the taxi trade and
will only apply to taxi drivers. The Council cannot, by law, apply the test to private
hire drivers.

You should get out more

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Taxi Driver Online
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