Taxi Driver Online

Police blitz on party limousines

Dozens of vehicles were stopped during a police crackdown on party limousines. Police targeted limousines carrying stag and hen parties but also checked other vehicles.

Officers pulled the vehicles into Madeira Drive, Brighton, where they were tested by Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) staff. Thirty six vehicles were stopped and VOSA issued 27 notices for a variety of offences.

Two limousines and five vehicles were seized by police for motoring offences.

Sergeant Mel Doyle from Hove Road Policing Unit said: "We are targeting stretched limousines to make sure they are safe and legal. "But we used our time to check other road users we suspected might not comply with relevant road traffic law. "Limousines are one type of road user which gets neglected. This was the first time we have targeted them this year."

Police were concerned with the safety of limousines because many of those seen in Brighton and Hove have been imported from America. Cars made in America often don't comply with British law. For example, there can be too great a distance between the wheel bases.

Traffic officer PC Gary Relf said: "Thousands of American limousines have come into Britain and the majority aren't up to the necessary standard. "Many then head to Brighton every weekend because it is a popular place for parties. We want to make sure the vehicles are legal so people are safe."

Officers escorted the groups of revellers from the back of the limousines to their destination while the vehicles was being escorted to the testing site next to Brighton's Palace Pier on Friday. The road policing unit was joined by Police Community Support Officers, Special Constables and dog handlers.

Members of Brighton and Hove city Council's taxi licensing team were also on hand to inspect driving licences. Officers issued 20 fixed penalty notices for a variety of offences.

Three vehicles were tested positive for class A drugs using an Ion Track swab testing kit. A driver was arrested for driving while disqualified and another on suspicion of drink driving.

Earlier this month limousine company Travelmasters Limited in Warren Road, Brighton, was fined £2,400 and ordered to pay £6,700 costs by a court for operating unlicensed vehicles and drivers.

The firm was prosecuted following spot checks in December 2006, when officers checked 21 limousines. Police urged everyone who orders a limousines to check the credentials of the company they are booking with.

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IDFIMH

But not the last.

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IDFIMH

Surely it wasn't one of their unlicensed unchecked limos that got towed away.

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IDFIMH

Brighton is one of the few authorities in the country that has a policy of enforcement against limousines, executive and novelty type vehicles.

I suppose the passengers who hired the disqualified driver separately from the hire of the vehicle new he was disqualified when they hired him? Or perhaps they didn't hire him and he came as part and parcel of the whole package?

What do you think?

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

When did the inforcement take place? There are no dates?

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Grandad,

Last Friday.

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IDFIMH

you would think if you were a dodgy limo company you would give Brighton a miss..

A very good source tells me that one of the Limos was towed away after the driver explained that his HGV licensed covered him for 'hire and reward'.

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IDFIMH

Do you think he might have got away with it if the vehicle wasn't licensed and he said he was doing a wedding contract?

Then again, who supplied the chauffeur? Surely the limo firm can't be blamed for providing the Chauffeur because they keep telling us the chauffeur is provided by the punter.

So lets examine who is in the frame if this guy ever gets taken to court?

The driver is in the frame for not having the appropriate license.

No matter how many seats it has, the vehicle operator is in the frame, for either operating an unlicensed vehicle, or if the vehicle is licensed, allowing it to be driven by an unlicensed person.

So we shall wait and see if these enforcement agencies follow this through to the bitter end.

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

No because he wasn't dealing with mugs.

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IDFIMH