Taxi Driver Online

Cab colour code plans abandoned

A 15-month dispute over proposals to introduce a white-only colour code for all city taxi cabs has come to an end. Durham City Council wanted to introduce the code for hackney cabs in the city.

That was challenged by drivers' leader Adrian Fetts before magistrates where he was successful, but the council then appealed that decision at crown court. The judge there dismissed the council's appeal and after reading the report, the council has now decided to abandon the colour policy.

Dozens of taxi drivers marched through the city earlier this year to protest against the plans. The council said it had wanted to introduce the single colour for a number of reasons including distinguishing between hackney cabs and private hire vehicles.

Other reasons were ease of enforcement and standardisation with other authorities in the area. The council said the judgement from his Honour Judge Carr said the council had consulted adequately on the introduction of the policy and that the timescale had been reasonable.

But he did not accept that the colour was a means of distinguishing between hackney carriage and private users. He did not accept that the colour of the taxi would encourage individuals to use a taxi if they would otherwise not have done and so he dismissed the public safety argument.

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IDFIMH

Hi Sussex

This could have implications up here

Do you have a link to the judgement ?

Crown Court ones aren't so easy to get hold off.

Unless you are a member of the legal profession and linked to one of those bloody expensive databases.

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IDFIMH

So JD should be alright.

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IDFIMH

Thanks Sussex

J.D. Where are you ?

Taking his bra off?

peeping tom

Durham council informed me they had lost the case as soon as they got to know about it. The decision was hot off the press and they had no details of the judgement. I therefore instigated the following thread in October to see if anyone could shed any light on the situation? I'm glad Sussex resurrected the case because it is no doubt significant. However, these types of cases are always based on what's "reasonable" therefore what might not be reasonable in Durham, may well be reasonable in some other part of the country, albeit under a different circumstance?

http://taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtop ... ght=durham

If the case has been reported I'll probably be able to get it, the problem arises when these types of cases go unreported.




Regards

JD

GB dear, will you please stop invading my privacy?

Regards

cynthia

Thanks JD

Your are priceless to this website & all who use it

The local council here (Renfrewshire) brought in a similar colour code, as that proposed in Durham, a few years ago

Renfrewshire Council used the same arguements as Durham, helps to distinguish taxis from private hire, etc.

I always thought the giant council roof signs we have to use saying 'Renfrewshire Council Taxi' were a good clue to the purpose we served !

Anyway, because it has been brought in here other local authorites now seem to think it is okay as Renfrewshire set the precedent

I know one of the Lanarkshire authorities have adopted the exact same code, ie. taxis to be white only

Taxis have always been BLACK..... this colour has been good enough for decades so why change ?

The circumstances you experianced in Renfrewshire seem very similiar to those in Durham. I've always maintained that an illuminated Taxi sign is good enough to distinguish between a Taxi and any other type of vehicle. It would seem that the judge in the Durham case is of the same opinion.

Stockport won a similiar case not so long ago, which just proves councils don't always get their own way in court.

Regards

JD

Except when it's on a PH vehicle, and even if it doesn't use the word taxi.

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

I suspect there are still some councils who allow the use of illuminated roof signs on a PH vehicles. Some time ago a half hearted attempt was made by certain individuals in Manchester to retain Illuminated roof signs after the local authority had removed the condition of license. Sussex and I had a small wager on the outcome of the court case but unfortunately it never got that far.

I think those councils who license saloon type vehicles as hackneys while at the same time allowing illuminated roof signs to be displayed on P/H vehicles are probably sailing a little too close to the wind as far as the law is concerned?

The case put forward for retention in Manchester was that of safety? It never went to court so we won't know what the final outcome would have been but if the judge in Durham case said an illuminated sign is all that is needed to distinguish the vehicle as a Taxi, it might be prudent to suggest that he may have entertained the thought that any other similar type vehicles running around Durham displaying illuminated roof signs might also be confused as Taxis so it leads me to think that all other such vehicles would be excluded from displaying any type of illuminated sign in Durham.

Regards

JD

Oh yeah is it have a go at Sussex day today?

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IDFIMH