Taxi Driver Online

Taxis banned from road in surprise inspection
Published date: 29 March 2011 | Published by: staff reporter
FOUR taxis have been ordered off the road after inspectors carried out safety checks in Ellesmere Port.

A series of unannounced safety checks found the vehicles had “serious” defects and the drivers were prohibited from using the taxis until the problems have been fixed. A further five vehicles were issued with defect notices and six more with suspension notices by licensing officers.

Regulatory services manager Vanessa Griffiths said: “Operation Gold is extremely important because it reassures the public that, in the licensing system, there are random unannounced safety checks as well as routine inspections.

“This operation highlighted vehicle defects that might well have gone unnoticed for days, even weeks, eventually resulting in serious consequences. These checks ensure high levels of passenger and driver safety in licensed vehicles.”

The multi-agency operation involved Cheshire West and Chester Council, Cheshire Police, the Vehicle and Operator Services agency (VOSA) and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs Road Fuel Testing Unit.

During the operation 44 licensed private hire and Hackney carriage vehicles were inspected by the Road Fuel Testing Unit for possible use of red diesel which can only be used for agricultural and commercial purposes which attracts low prices and lesser fuel duty. All vehicles were found to be using the correct fuel. A further 25 vehicles were inspected for both road worthiness and compliance of their vehicle licence conditions.

Passenger disruption was kept to a minimum by targeting vehicles that were either at the end of their journey or empty.

Ms Griffiths added: “It is encouraging to know that at a time of high rising fuel costs for all road users, licensed drivers have not been tempted to avoid the requisite fuel duty.

“We will continue to mount such unannounced exercises across the borough with our licensing enforcement team working alongside our partners covering many areas relating to the private hire and hackney carriage trade in combined operations that minimise disruption to the trade and the public. This was a very successful operation and a good example of how a multi-agency approach to enforcement achieves a result to protect travelling members of the public.”

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http://chestertaxicall.co.uk

Is red diesel usage in cabs an issue anywhere?

Can't ever remember seeing a prosecution for it.

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IDFIMH