Taxi Driver Online

Ah, the gold badge.

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Grandad,

well it seems the council never listened to a word we said and have no idea what a speciality badge is. Thats the buisness screwed before we even started, great.

what do you want to do, weddings or proms/events, etc? what vehicle were you thinking of?

whats your LA's PH age limits?

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

How much are you prepared to spend on getting your vehicle plated?
If you can't get anywhere by simply asking the licensing officer if they will license your vehicle I would sugest firstly, contact your local councillor and discuss with them what you want to do and try and get their support. Secondly submit your vehicle for inspection and if the council won't plate it after inspection, ask for the refusal to be put in writing, that bit is very important. Appeal to the council against the decision and hope to convince a committee of councillors. If that fails you have the option of appealing to the magistrates court.

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Grandad,

Any special events, so weddings, proms, birthdays etc. The women whos job it is to do the licenses didn;t actually say what their age limit was but we said we had heard others had a limit of 8 years and she said that was around the norm so im guessing thats where theirs is.

We have had further contact today with the head of the LA down here who admitted they need to do something about classic cars so we now have to send them the details of the car (a 1978 Jaguar xj12) she will then write a report on it and what we want to do then put it to a committee to decied whether or not we get the go ahead or not, so its not over yet as it turns out.

That sounds like standard procedure. The LO will probably advise that the application is turned down on the age of the vehicle but providing that the vehicle is in first class condition you should be able to convince the committee to plate it. You should also be able to convince the committee to give you an exemption from displaying the plate on the vehicle due to the work that you intend to do.

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Grandad,

Grandad. Thats interesting and very good to know, i will keep that in mind if i need to present my own case at the comittee meeting, your advice and expertise has been invaluable so far and i thank you so much for giving your valueble time with this matter, it has certainly given me more confidence going up against the council so far. The same goes for anyone who has given me advice so far on this subject, it is certainly alot more complicated than i first realised from reading the councils own wedsite

Yes, but better ask before you get nicked for not having the correct licences. As one who operates classic buses as well, i know all too well about the restrictions.

What grandad says is right. If the LA refuse you a licence, be prepared to appeal to the magistrates court. There was a similar case in the Bristol area which ended up in Crown Court couple of years ago, not involving vehcile age, but seating legroom; the court found in the applicants favour and the judge said the laws were not fit for purpose. Don't worry, you haven't committed an offence, it's just that the law says these appeals have to be made in a magistrates court. If you lose, the appeal against that is Crown Court. I doubt if the LA would like that sort of challenge, especially as their barristers are rather expensive/government cuts/wasting money etc. come into play.

the problem with the standard PH plate could be ruining the look of (or photos of) a classic car with a sodding great bright yellow sticker "Cornwall council, private hire, advamce bookings only" (not to mention the paint underneath them)

Wouldnt go well on a big merc saloon with wedding ribbons, or a prom night tart cart

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

There's usually an exemption for "executive" and speciality cars form carrying an identity plat that is obtrusive.

thats "the no-plate plate", Wyre council require drivers to have had anti-kidnap driver training and wear a uniform....

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

My brother does anti-kidnap training if that's any help.

for drivers or passengers?....

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most