Taxi Driver Online

A police spokeswoman said: "We have a responsibility to the public and other road users to educate the operators of limousines about the legality and serious safety issues surrounding the running of these vehicles.

We have 2 limos in the Borders, and they are both plated PH.
JD you posed the question what if they cannot obtain a licence, If they where to go PH I was under the impression that councils could not refuse to licence them as long as they meet all the licencing requirements is this true??????

I think that the majority of councils, stipulate that the engine must be a minimum 1400cc, have 4 doors and a boot for luggage, and limos fall into that category even though they are longer.
I wonder if any limo owner has ever applied for a hack licence especially in area's where WAV's are not as yet manditory would be a bit tight on the rank though

If that isn't evidence of complete and utter stupidity then you have to wonder what could be.

Paying £130,000 and still getting it wrong.

Would you care to guess at why the hummer was impounded.

Have any of the limo websites commented on this sting considering the number of vehicles that were stopped and found to be in breach of the law?

Thank you for that input Grandad but when I spoke to the Sussex police today to find out the circumstances of how these prosecutions came about they seemed to be under the impression that there are more unlicensed limos running around than those that are licensed?

TDO is the first to get that press release because we wanted the facts and not because we have anything against limos but because we prefer to get at the truth of the matter.

My question in the previous post was, "where do unlicensed limos go from here" because it appears to both me and the police that there might still be a great many limos out there who are either not prepared to get licensed or are incapable of obtaining a license?

Do you have an opinion on the number of limos that might fit into the permanent unlicensed category?

Regards

JD

I think that the majority of councils, stipulate that the engine must be a minimum 1400cc, have 4 doors and a boot for luggage, and limos fall into that category even though they are longer.
I wonder if any limo owner has ever applied for a hack licence especially in area's where WAV's are not as yet manditory would be a bit tight on the rank though

If memory serves me right it was too heavy.

Press release sent to TDO from Sussex Police

Issue Date: 1/2/2008

No: 22867

Title: LIMOUSINE COMPANY CONVICTED

A limousine company has been convicted at Brighton Magistrates Court today, Friday 1st February, on eight counts connected to operating unlicensed vehicles and drivers.

Travelmasters Limited failed two test purchases carried out by council officers and also failed an on-the-spot check in December 2006 carried out as part of Operation Fantasia, a multi-agency operation involving Brighton & Hove's Roads Policing Unit, VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency), Brighton and Hove Council Taxi Licensing Unit and officers from the Sussex Police Special Constabulary stopping limousines to ensure vehicles were correctly licensed and roadworthy and drivers held relevant licences in the interest of public safety.

On 9th December 2006, the team stopped twenty one limousines, with nine being given prohibitions for numerous offences including being overweight, carrying invalid operator licences and driving licences, inaccurate tachographs, carrying excessive passengers and having faulty tyres, brakes and lights.

Some were given immediate prohibitions, others with direction notices, and three were seized immediately. A number of endorsable and non endorsable tickets were also issued for a wide range of offences. One vehicle, a £130k Stretch Hummer was seized as a result of a number of offences dealt with by both the police and VOSA.

A police spokeswoman said: "We have a responsibility to the public and other road users to educate the operators of limousines about the legality and serious safety issues surrounding the running of these vehicles. Everyone who visits Brighton & Hove should be able to have a safe and enjoyable evening and we would urge anyone booking a limousine for that extra special event to check the credentials of the company they are booking with and ensure that they comply with all regulations."

More than 6,000 limousines are currently in the UK, the overwhelming majority of which are imported from the USA.

As the use of limousines in the UK rises, particularly in cities like Brighton, Sussex Police are keen to ensure that the companies that operate these vehicles comply with safety and legal requirements at all times and will carry out more checks in the future.

Details of sentencing are awaited.

I have just read this again and realise that it was an opeeration that was carried out in 2006. I thought it was something new.

I have just read this again and realise that it was an opeeration that was carried out in 2006. I thought it was something new.