Taxi Driver Online

Maybe you should

SUSSEX WROTE

I think Aberdeen have got it just about right.

Checked drivers and checked vehicles.




Yes indeed i agree with you totally, but you only highlight some of the initial report, what about the rest of it, how are we supposed to know where to turn when even the powers that be still cant agree who can and who cant. I REST MY CASE MY LORD

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Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!

I just believe in zero tolerance

By the way, I wasn't disagreeing with Paisley Buddie, what I was alluding to was that the police show little interest in anything but more serious crime, thus his statement seemed a bit unrealistic.

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

I agree with yourself & Buddie, its just a pity that the local authorities are failing in their duty to protect the public when Parliament has gave them the requirement to do so

I disagree slightly with Buddie over the Polices role, certainally here in the Strathclyde forces area the have tried to get the Councils to take action

Someone taking exception to the article in The Courier.

or a free bit of advertising?




All legal and above board

Sir,—I was very interested to read your article on Saturday, May 6, headed Changes loom for long limos, which contained the statement that “in reality very few cars are licensed and may be operating illegally”!

I recently took over a well-known business in Dundee called Sir Normal Limousines and, together with all other operators in Dundee I have to follow the strict policy set by Dundee City Council cab enforcement to allow me to operate in Dundee.

I have to have a £70 taxi private hire badge, gained after an £80 medical, a highway code test and police criminal check. I then have to have a private hire operator’s licence (£165); have my car checked twice per year (£50 each) on top of the annual MOT. Of course you then have the usual tax and insurance as per any other car. This is to operate a part-time car which is usually only out for a few hours per week—but that’s the advantage of operating within Dundee, it is all above board and legal with eight passengers travelling in safety and comfort. I pride myself with the high standard of service we provide.

I was disappointed to read the article which only made reference to Angus, Fife and Perth and Kinross councils who currently have no regulations in place, but no mention from Dundee Council who are very much ahead of the game as far as the regulations are concerned. When driving the limousine on the streets of Dundee we have to ensure the occupants are wearing seatbelts and travelling safely.

I would advise anyone requiring a limo to be sure to use one of the five Dundee operators who will be displaying a Dundee City Council special event private hire badge beside the tax disc. That way you are assured of eight passengers travelling in comfort in a fully regulated vehicle, driven by a fully licensed driver!

Lindsay Mitchell, Sir Normal Limousines.
22 Blacklaw Drive,
Birkhill, by Dundee.

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2006 ... etters.asp

Good too see licensed limos in Dundee but, I had a look at the conditions attached to their licences & noticed a few unfair differences from regular private hire

The limos are allowed tinted windows yet standard private hire are expressed forbidden from having the same in order to protect passengers.

The private hire guidance notes state 'Given concerns over passenger safety and security, the Licensing Committee requires all other windows to provide a clear view into the vehicle'

The limos require small licence discs in front window, why not big plates on the bumpers ?



SPECIAL EVENT PRIVATE HIRE CARS

GUIDANCE FOR LICENCE APPLICANTS

GENERAL NOTES

A Special Event Private hire car is a converted vehicle used as a private hire car for special journeys. In every day language a stretched limousine

The licensing of such a vehicle will be dependent upon the Council being satisfied that the vehicle is suitable in size type and design for use as a private hire car. The prime consideration of the Council is the safety and comfort of the travelling public.

Before being inspected for licensing as a private hire car, an appointment must be made at the Vehicle Test Centre, 353 Clepington Road (Tel 434736) for an initial inspection of the vehicle to ascertain whether it complies with the requirements laid out below. The owner of the vehicle will attend for this preliminary inspection at a convenient time advised by the Cabs Enforcement Officer.

Following this preliminary inspection of the vehicle a report will be prepared by the Cabs Enforcement Officer and the Plant and Vehicle Officer and in the light of this the Council will determine whether the vehicle should be licensed as a special event private hire car in which case special conditions of licence will apply.

The number of passengers which the vehicle is licensed to carry will in all cases be subject to the discretion of the Council up to a maximum of 8 passengers. The number of passengers will be determined by seat belts and seating arrangements.

For avoidance of doubt even though the vehicle may be fitted with a bar there can be no sale of alcohol.

REQUIREMENTS

Only vehicles complying with the following requirements will be considered for licensing as Special Event Private Hire Cars:-

1. Vehicles may be left or right hand drive providing that they have proof of full DfT Vehicle Type Approval;

2. Vehicles must be capable of carrying at least 3 and not more than 8 passengers in addition to the driver;

3. All paintwork must be free of rust and corrosion and must be of a very high standard;

4. Vehicles must have adequate space for luggage;

5. Vehicles shall be equipped at all times with seat belts of an acceptable type in respect of every seat which can be used for the carriage of passengers. Seat belts must comply with current legislation and be in proper working order at all times.

6. To comply with Construction and Use Regulations the front windscreen and front door must not exceed 25% of tint and the front door windows 30% of tint;

7. Vehicles must otherwise comply with the Council's test requirements for Taxis and private hire cars, as amended by these requirements;

Notwithstanding the above the Council reserves the right to take age, mechanical condition, mileage, appearance, bodywork condition, safety features and any other relevant considerations into account when deciding on whether to grant a Special Event Private Hire Car Licence

SPECIAL EVENT PRIVATE HIRE CAR LICENCE CONDITIONS

1. Except as hereby varied the conditions for private hire car licences, adopted on 30 September 2004 shall apply to Special Event Private Hire Cars. Words and phrases defined in the Standard Conditions shall have the same meanings in these Special Event Private Hire Car licence conditions.

2. A Special Event Private Hire Car is a private hire car used only for bookings which are made in advance.

3. The Licence Holder shall display on the windscreen of the vehicle a Disc issued by the Licensing Authority bearing the maximum number of passengers permitted and the Licence number of the special event Private Hire Car. The disc shall be affixed in a weatherproof case to the windscreen of the vehicle to which it relates so that the letters are facing outwards. If any letters on the disc should become obliterated or defaced so as not to be distinctly visible or legible, or the disc is lost, the licence holder shall forthwith obtain from the Licensing Authority a replacement disc. A fee may be charged for such replacement disc. A similar internal disc shall be displayed in a conspicuous position, agreed with the Cabs Enforcement Officer, clearly visible to all passengers.

4. (a) The licenceholder shall not permit the said vehicle to be used to carry a greater number of passengers than the number stated on the Disc referred to in Condition 3 above.

(b) The licenceholder shall not allow any passengers to be conveyed in the front seats of the said vehicle and accordingly these seats must be removed..

5. No licenceholder shall part with or lend the Disc issued in respect of a vehicle to any other person.

6. (a) The seats shall be covered with leather or other appropriate materials and must be properly upholstered and in good condition, free from rips, tears and holes.

(b) The fittings and furniture in the Special Event Private Hire Car must be kept in a clean condition and well maintained. There should be no loose items. Fittings and furniture must be secure and neither impinge on passenger safety nor interfere with passenger access or egress.

(c) Seat Belts shall be provided for every passenger the Special Event Private Hire Car is licensed to carry.

7. The requirement that glass must afford an unrestricted view of the vehicle interior, will apply only to the windscreen and front door windows of Special Event Private Hire Cars.

8. The Special Event Private Hire Car must be fitted with two portable type fire extinguishers which conform to British Standards 5423 of the following type:-

(a) a dry powder 34B rated extinguisher minimum capacity 1kg; or

(b) an AFFF foam 21B rated extinguisher minimum capacity 0.9 litres

One extinguisher shall be mounted on brackets in a convenient position in the driver's compartment, if practicable. The other extinguisher shall be mounted on brackets in a convenient position within the boot of the vehicle.

WOW

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Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!

I'm not so sure they are unfair.

Yes they are different to those for 'real' PH, but a Skoda isn't a Limo.

My view is that we need to be flexible to get Limos licensed.

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IDFIMH

Sussex wrote
My view is that we need to be flexible to get Limos licensed.



Well done Sussex, the true voice of reason

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Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!

F*** me, that's the first time, and no doubt the last, anyone has ever said such a thing to me.

I'm deeply moved.

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IDFIMH

dont worry, you'll get over it, plenty of ruffage always a good solution

Captain cab

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

Yes, but why should the limo be allowed tints and the Skoda not?

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

A good point, and I hate tints big time. Really hate them as a matter of fact.

But we are where we are, and if it's a choice of having a licensed limo with tints and all those other things, or having an un-licensed limo, then even I will have to bite one's tongue for a while.

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IDFIMH

To be perfectly honest TDO, i would have to say that a limo just wouldn't be a limo without the tinted windows. Now i for 1 say that limos are not taxis, however yes i have to agree that like you we charge and basicly do the same thing, but lets be honest here where as you guys charge by the mile we dont and we charge somewhere close to £100 per hour depending on the occasion, therefore i feel personally that we are slightly different than taxis, some may not agree with me and thats fair enough i have no problem with that. As for the argument of tinting or not, i would say that under VOSA Regs we are not allowed it over a certain percentage to the front windows for obvious safety reasons, this in mind is it really a problem for us to have tinting to the rear as there are no safety issues. Regards

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Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!