Taxi Driver Online

Kids left shocked as police stop fire limo



A FIRE engine limo hosting a kids' party has been pulled over by police in Glasgow city centre.
Shocked children as young as eight watched as the driver was quizzed by traffic officers for more than half an hour over a licensing row.
Police confirmed a 39-year-old driver has been charged with a road traffic offence after officers stopped the vehicle, owned by Crazy Fire Company, in Bothwell Street.
It is understood the man has been charged with driving without a PSV licence, which normally applies to buses.
The limo had picked up seven children and a parent from the Xscape leisure complex at Braehead and was due to tour Glasgow city centre when police swooped on July 17.
Police allowed the driver to complete the hire, which had cost the party organisers £115, after they finished their questioning.
Paul Gibson, boss of Crazy Fire Company, said: "We have taken legal advice and have asked the police to clarify exactly why the fire engine was stopped.
"The children were a bit startled by what happened.
"The driver was taken into the police car and questioned for more than half an hour as the kids waited inside the limo."
Drivers who carry more than eight passengers are legally obliged to have a valid PSV licence but there were only seven children and an adult on board the limo.
A police spokeswoman said: "A man has been charged in connection with an alleged road traffic offence."
The Braehead-based company, which operates four fire engine limos, was investigated last year following a licensing dispute.
One driver was stopped and charged for not having a taxi driver's badge, but the charges were later dropped.
The firm has since lodged a £350,000 compensation claim against Strathclyde Police and Renfrewshire Council for lost revenue and the case is due to call next month.
Mr Gibson claims he was put off the road for weeks during the investigation. And he says the damage to his business and reputation is irreparable.

Publication date 21/07/06

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5055039.html

From what I've heard this guy wants to get licenced but cannot because none of the regulatory authorities have one in place they can give him

This is indeed the real problem, however i feel if you cant operate legally then perhaps they shoul not start to operate atall, until such times as they can operate legally, afterall you wouldn't expect to open a pub without a liquor licence and get away with it now would you

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Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!

Part of me says the chap has a point, but a bigger part says what the f*** does he expect. It's a f***ing fire-engine.

Saw one of them stopped down this way a while ago, and the police gave the driver a fixed penalty ticket (£30 I think) for flashing his blue lights.

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IDFIMH

What do the readers of this site make of the fact a quick look at the Yellow Pages website results in 34 companies in Glasgow being found under 'limousine hire', yet the Crazy Fire Compnay is the only one thats ever stopped ?

http://www.yell.com/ucs/UcsSearchAction ... Submit.y=0

Especially one that offers a 16 seater hummer
http://www.dream-limousines.co.uk/fleet.htm

I wouldn't mind betting that he is the only fire engine limo in that area, and if he is unlicenced then this is your answer, however if some of the limos are unlicenced also then clearly he would have a genuine case to moan about and clearly these companies should also be getting stopped and prosecuted!

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Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!