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Birmingham PH face ban for plying for hire
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Author:  captain cab [ Thu Dec 29, 2011 8:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Birmingham PH face ban for plying for hire
Found this story.....aint sure if i posted it before Chrimbo


Birmingham Mail
Dec 22 2011

Birmingham PH face ban for plying for hire


MINICAB drivers caught plying for hire on Birmingham’s streets face losing their license for a first offence following a meeting of city licensing chiefs.

The zero-tolerance policy has been adopted in a bid to improve the safety of passengers and protect trade for Birmingham’s army of legitimate black cab drivers.

And it follows the failure of a trial six-months suspension of licence to cut the numbers of minicabs illegally picking up passengers on the road.

Minicabs, officially known as private hire cars, must be pre-booked with a cab firm’s office, and cannot pick up people from the roadside.

Cabs doing this are not covered by insurance, while passengers are routinely warned not to get in cars they have not booked for safety reasons. Black Cabs, or Hackney Carriages, are the only vehicles allowed to pick up fares in this way.

In the year before the trial 37 drivers were caught plying for hire, but despite the threat of six months suspension the total rose to 87 cases.

Licensing officials believe these cases are the just the ‘tip of the iceberg’, with many hundreds going undetected. So the licensing committee has now voted to revoke the license for a first offence.

Coun Bruce Lines (Con, Bartley Green), who chaired an investigation into the issue, said: “The new policy seems to be draconian, but it has been developed in full consultation with Birmingham taxi drivers.

“Plying for hire is still a major problem and the current policy just isn’t working to deal with it. A stronger deterrent is needed.”

According to a survey on the council’s website, 76 per cent of respondents, both public and taxi drivers, were in favour of the zero-tolerance approach.

But Coun Majid Mahmood (Lab, Hodge Hill) was opposed to the upgrade. He said: “It seems unduly harsh for a first offence. Everyone is capable of making a mistake and deserves a second chance. I think a six month suspension was adequate and what is needed is more enforcement.

“We could be putting more and more drivers on the dole at a time when unemployment is already high,” he added.


Read More http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top- ... z1hx9H5nxr
Author:  skippy41 [ Fri Dec 30, 2011 5:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Birmingham PH face ban for plying for hire
They should also crush the cars as well, line all the ones caught up in the scrap yard, and get them to press the crusher button when there car goes in :D :D :D
Author:  Dusty Bin [ Fri Dec 30, 2011 6:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Birmingham PH face ban for plying for hire
Yes, maybe they should do that for drivers working excessive hours as well. Skippy. :roll:

Interesting story though in view of our recent discussion about deterrence.

So at the moment they're considered to be fit and proper again after 6 months, but the proposal is that in fact they'll never be fit and proper? Sure Sussex will like that one. :lol:

Quote:
But Coun Majid Mahmood (Lab, Hodge Hill) was opposed to the upgrade. He said: “It seems unduly harsh for a first offence. Everyone is capable of making a mistake and deserves a second chance. I think a six month suspension was adequate and what is needed is more enforcement.


Indeed, I think enforcement is the key to many of these issues, and indeed this applies to law and order more generally.

The warning sign is usually when words like 'crackdown' or 'clampdown' are used. This normally means that the authorities are making a feeble attempt to deal with something they've utterly neglected, but milking their action for all it's worth.

Then things return to normal, until the next crackdown or clampdown, that is.

But from a law enforcement or deterrent point of view it's largely pointless, and its purpose is largely just to make the powers that be look as if they're interested, whereas the reality is that it tells us more about their neglect.

'Upgrade' is an interesting word to use in this context though - seems more appropriate for getting a nice new iPhone or installing more RAM on your computer. :lol:
Author:  Nidge2 [ Fri Dec 30, 2011 7:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Birmingham PH face ban for plying for hire
When you ask our Council if they are going to come out and enforce the trade all we get is, "we don't just look after Taxis and PH."
Author:  Sussex [ Fri Dec 30, 2011 8:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Birmingham PH face ban for plying for hire
Nidge2 wrote:
When you ask our Council if they are going to come out and enforce the trade all we get is, "we don't just look after Taxis and PH."

They then need to, by FoI requests if need be, to be asked what % of total licensing income comes from the taxi and PH trade.

Then they can spend that % of their enforcement time on the trade.
Author:  Brummie Cabbie [ Fri Dec 30, 2011 10:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Birmingham PH face ban for plying for hire
Quote:
But Coun Majid Mahmood (Lab, Hodge Hill) was opposed to the upgrade. He said: “It seems unduly harsh for a first offence. Everyone is capable of making a mistake and deserves a second chance. I think a six month suspension was adequate and what is needed is more enforcement.

I don't suppose that a high proportion of voters in his Ward are either PH drivers, or PH proprietors, or family members of these two groups allegedly had anything to do with his opposition to the new policy!!
Author:  edders23 [ Fri Dec 30, 2011 7:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Birmingham PH face ban for plying for hire
I think there should be a 2 strikes rule a ban for a first offence but if caught twice a lifetime ban perhaps the british Olympic Association can offer some advice there :badgrin:
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