Taxi Driver Online

Several weeks ago I approached a limousine in Manchester belonging to a company named Style Limousines. I asked the driver why he wasn't displaying a license plate or license certification of any kind? He replied, "he was operating under schedule you know what and he didn't need one". I asked him if he was carrying passengers for hire or reward and he said, "he was". I then asked him if he was employed by style limousines he said, "he was". So I asked him the 64 thousand dollar question, "did he come with the vehicle or was he hired independently by the hirers of the vehicle"? Guess what he said?

I then asked the person who hired the vehicle if he knew the driver, he said no.

I then asked him if he hired the driver from an agency, he said no. I asked him did the driver come with the hire of the vehicle? low and behold he said "he did come with the hire of the vehicle".

Style limousines I have your number.

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.

Just goes to show that this self drive is a scam.. Stlye Limousines is one of the country's biggest limo firms, he is the one with the Frearri limo.If they cant do it right what chance is there in all the others from the one man band to the bigger firms......

Defend that Grandad.....if you can

I think I have been consistent with what I have said regarding the operation of limousines mr no tips. I will defend any operator that is working within the rules of self drive but anyone who doesn't work within the rules deserves all they get.

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Grandad,

I think it should be pointed out that the persons driving limousines under what we class as converted vehicles as per the self drive doctrine, are of the opinion that they are operating within the law. I have no axe to grind against these persons because I believe if a licensing regime was available these people would welcome it.

My only consideration is how the law applies at this moment in time. I don't blame Limo operators for trying to circumvent the law because the present law does not accommodate what they have to offer? I blame the Government for failing to recognise the need to license these vehicles.

We have all seen how horse and cart legislation from the 19th century has governed modern taxi vehicles so we shouldn't really be surprised at the slow progress in respect of limousines.

I think you should all vote me to be Minister for Transport.

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.

Here you go again ...when will you realise the differnce between Hire & Reward , and Self Drive Hire... you can not combine the two...

Well I am sorry JD you are wrong on this...all these limo lot knew darn well that they were spending big bucks on vehicles that they knew could not be operated within the law, but just looked at the money to be made.
So I have no sympathy for their greed.and the fact they all have stuck two fingers up not just the law but every one of us that work within the law. Why should we do it the right way when they are allowed to take the pi##.

I think the powers that be are well aware of the self drive scam.

The PC in Essex is well aware of what's going on.

A PC in Sussex is well aware of what's going on.

Let's see what happens during the prom season.

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IDFIMH

Thinking about hiring one JD?

CC

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

Hi All

My name is Dan C owner of style limousines, Its obvious why I am here.

First , I dont wish to argue on limo laws , self drive etc.

With regards JD's Post . I have PM'd JD to work out the details of the events that took place that night.

In my defence , Drivers are not aware of the results it has by making claims they work for the limo company , Often members of the public chat to the limo drivers , I supose its all to easy for them to say they work for the company rather than go into all the ins and outs of self drive and S6. If Jd had actually seen the drivers paperwork it would have contradicted what the driver had said.

Vosa are regulars in our garage as we also do mot testing . We have nothing to hide all paperwork is kept for 6 years and available to all relavant bodies.

Thanks Dan

We don't argue, we debate.

I suspect you will have a few questions coming up, hang about.

Welcome on board Dan.

The problem isn't about arguing about Limo laws/Self drive etc, it's that, IMO, the majority of the Limo trade don't want to adhere to them.

What level of CRB check do your drivers have?

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IDFIMH

I don't think JD was questioning the safety of your vehicles, more the legality of your operation.

And as we both know VOSA are pi** poor at enforcement of PSV licensing laws.

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IDFIMH

Welcome Dan, it will be good to get a practical view of what is happening on the shop floor.

I can agree with you that what drivers say (or actually know) is very often nothing like what is really required and they tend to just say "yeah" to anyone asking. I wish I had a £1 for everytime a customer was SURE that all flights to Spain went only from T2 at Manchester because he had been on them. I do point out their mistake bit I am quite happy to let them walk to T1 if that is where their airline departs from .

The self drive is a workable option BUT ALL paperwork and work practices must follow a precise format.
I feel sure that there will be a court case one day but it will all come down to making sure the i's are dotted and t's are crossed.

Just a note, please lets not come down to a slanging match with personal comments swearing etc. Listen to what the Guy has to say and agree to disagree if you want but we can all learn.

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you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.

Well I'm not sure that is the case, and I'm frankly amazed that any insurance company gives cover.

Maybe they realize that the Limo firms will never dot the i's and cross the t's, in relation to self-drive, thus they are taking the money for old rope.

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IDFIMH

I would also like to welcome Dan of Style limousines and I can confirm that he has indeed sent me a private message in respect of my encounter with the driver and passengers of one of his limousines. I read the message this morning and have now responded.

In respect of schedule six conversions we have had several lengthy discussions on the matter and it is no secret that my opinion is this,

"if operated correctly self drive limo hire could be lawful. However in order to make it lawful the limo operator would have to have no involvement in securing the services of the person who is to drive the limo. Supplying both limo and driver is unlawful and constitutes carrying on a business of hire or reward."

The bottom line is this, it doesn't matter what type of vehicle contract you are selling if the activity itself is unlawful?

Should limos have their own licensing, in my opinion yes they should. However we can only apply the rules that exist and as far as I'm concerned and many others then operators of all kinds who flout the licensing laws will always be a target for discussion on this website.

For my own part it is no secret that I have exposed many licensing indiscretions from councils in particular and I sometimes go where other people fear to tread but in the case of schedule six conversations I would like to point out that as of today the practice is not unlawful until a court of law says so. Therefore my opinion counts for nothing and striking up a casual conversation with an unsuspecting driver and then asking some pertinent questions which they would certainly not realise were designed for a specific purpose is hardly an indisgretion on the drivers part.

I would like to ask Dan how many Schedule six vehicles he operates and how his other vehicles are licensed and if he provides both Chauffer and vehicle or does he put the client in touch with a chauffer company? The person hiring the vehicle bought a complete package and he had never met the driver in his life so it is fairly obvious that the hirer didn't supply the chauffer.

If the powers that be ever undertake a shopping expedition and hire a vehicle under the self drive scheme then I suggest operators make sure they have no involvement in securing the services of the driver whatsoever.

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.