Taxi Driver Online

Suspended Luton Hackney driver ready for legal battle

A HACKNEY driver has vowed to continue the battle for his livelihood after a court ruling backed up a council decision to suspend his vehicle.

Mr Kamran Nawaz, of Fitzroy Avenue, Luton, who owns the Hackney Carriage, appealed to Luton Magistrates Court against the council's suspension of his vehicle when it was found to have been used to ply for trade at London Luton Airport.

Cars operated by London based private-hire firm Addison Lee are now the only cars authorised to pick people up from the airport following a controversial tender process which left hundreds of local drivers up in arms.

Magistrates dismissed Mr Nawaz's appeal after hearing evidence that on November 24 of last year, the driver was suspected of plying for hire in the vehicle. Again on November 30, the driver picked up two special constables from the drop off area with no booking.

Mr Nawaz told BoS: "I'm planning on appealing again, of course I am, and it's how I make my living. Personally, I believe the council have tried to make an example of me as I'm one of the group who's stood up against them and now my vehicle has been suspended."

Ibrahim Rasool of the Luton Hackney Carriage Association said: "Why are the council taking work away from the locals and handing it to a big company? We are all very upset and hurt by this. It makes it hard for us to trust the council and the ruling."

The court noted the airport was private land to which the public had access but this was not an area where Hackney Carriage drivers could ply for hire.

It also reiterated it is unlawful for licensed drivers to tout for business.

The vehicle suspension was immediately reinstated and the court awarded £500 towards the council's costs.

Read more at http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/susp ... X04IOrX.99

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

The court noted the airport was private land to which the public had access but this was not an area where Hackney Carriage drivers could ply for hire.

so does that imply that hackneys can't ply for hire on any private land ? If that was the case then at nearly every railway station in the land it would be illegal to ply for hire or does it mean that plying for hire is legal only if the land is covered by a specific bye law which makes it legal ?

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Hackney Carriages can only ply for hire on private land if they have the permission of the land owner - the airport will have its own byelaws I suspect.

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

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

PART 4 TAXIS

4.1 No person shall cause or permit any vehicle to be used as a hackney carriage plying for hire on the airport without a permit for that purpose issued by LLAOL and a licence having been obtained for the vehicle under section 37 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 from Luton Borough Council.

4.2 No person shall park or stand a taxi on any part of the airport for the purpose of plying for hire without a permit for that purpose issued by LLAOL displayed in the vehicle.

4.3 No driver of a taxi at the airport shall fail to wear in such a position and manner as to be plainly and distinctly visible, a valid hackney carriage driver's identity card issued by LLAOL.

4.4 No person shall park or stand a taxi for the purpose of plying for hire in any area other than the standings.

4.5 No person shall, without permission, in the terminal building or other public building, offer his or any other vehicle for hire.

4.6 No person shall park or stand a taxi on any standing when the maximum number to stand thereon shown by a notice erected by LLAOL at the head of the standing is thereby exceeded.

4.7 No person shall leave a taxi unattended at any time.

4.8 No person shall wash down or clean out a taxi whilst it is on a standing.

4.9 No person shall carry out any repair or maintenance work to a taxi whilst it is on a standing.


7.2 Any person contravening any of the byelaws in Parts 2, 3, 4, and 6 except the byelaws referred to in byelaws 7.1 and 7.3 shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale1.

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

all very well but AL are not hackneys or certainly weren't last time i was at that particular hell hole !Unless Luton borough council are now allowing saloon car hackneys

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

But have they suspended his vehicle license or his driver's license?

Struggle to see how they can suspend his vehicle license?

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IDFIMH