Taxi Driver Online

some one should remind em what they are surposed to be now i think they have forgot

one office two lots off cars doing the work (plated and un plated)

unplated still useing p/h taxi lanes

unplated still got council insurace signs on car

unplated still got "private hire only" on doors

and unplated runing with meters on !!!!!!!!!!!!!1

local LA dont seem to be bothered

we should all run on section 75 because they are taking the p*** out of the trade as a whole

last night (friday) the pink people had one car down

due to the fact of it started with 50% derv and then the driver thiught it would be a good idea to put the other 50% in unleaded in a garage in warrington . the hack driver next to them thought it was funny anyway

The latest Pink ladies franchise is in Hull, if anyone is interested?

Regards

JD

Licensed or un-licensed?

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IDFIMH

I suspect unlicensed.

They don't class themselves as Hackney carriage or Private hire drivers and are still pushing the line that they are a club, therefore exempt from licensing.

Regards

JD

I wonder when the Pinkies are going to mention to this new franchise the Road Safety Bill.

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IDFIMH

I understand they have 4 vehicles, which seems strange as I understood the franchise had to buy 7.

CC

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

In a few days time the Hull Pink ladies franchise will be up and running but in order to give you an insight into how the operation works I highlighted a piece taken from a newspaper report which I found quite interesting. The report unwittingly highlights the fact that the vehicles for hire might not be available to the contracted member all of the time? This is most interesting because it might suggest there is no continual vehicle contract in operation because the contracted vehicle may not be available to the contracted member on demand? Therefore it might not be a continual contract under the terms of section 75. 1976 act?

"Bookings are only taken when drivers are available".

The comments of Mike Adamson, chairman of the Hull Private Hire Drivers' Association are most enlightening because he welcomes the Pink Ladies operation and makes no reference to the fact that the business operation could be illegal?
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Hull Daily Mail

July 27, 2006 Thursday

HEADLINE: Women think pink for safe trip home

A Women-only "chauffeur" service to ensure safe travel for ladies is to be launched in Hull.

Pink Ladies, which only employs female drivers trained in self- defence, is a members' club that was created in Warrington a year ago. The service will come to the city in September, following successful launches elsewhere in the country. [/b]

Co-founder Andrea Winders said: "We had an aim that by the end of the year we wanted a presence in all major cities in the UK. "We were approached by several women in Hull who heard about the Pink Ladies and really wanted to bring the service to the city." The company operates in Warrington, St Helens, Carlisle, Plymouth and a small section of North London.

Cars used by the firm are painted bright pink, with a pink interior, and are big enough to carry prams and wheelchairs. Initially, four Pink Ladies vehicles fitted with satellite tracking will be in Hull, each able to carry four passengers, but more are planned to meet expected demand.

Bookings are only taken when drivers are available. For extra security, when a driver is two minutes away from a pick-up, she will call ahead to the passenger so no one is waiting on the street.

Women pay £1 to join Pink Ladies and use a membership card to pay. Members top up their cards with credit over the Internet, the phone, at newsagents or by a cheque in advance.

This means drivers and passengers do not have to carry cash.

Mrs Winders said: "Our service doesn't stop until the lady is through her front door. "We are not saying there is a problem with male cabbies, it's about giving women a choice."

Former Atomic Kitten star Kerry Katona endorses the Pink Ladies service and directors say she will visit Hull for the launch.

Mike Adamson, chairman of the Hull Private Hire Drivers' Association, runs the 57 taxi firm in west Hull. He said: "I think it's quite a good thing. It fills a niche in the market. I don't think it will affect business."

Today, safety officials and women across the region welcomed the Pink Ladies to Hull. Katy Glenville, of Hull Citysafe, said: "Pre-booking the service ensures women are thinking about the night ahead." Hull bag designer Oban Hogarth, 31, of Princes Avenue, west Hull, said: "I think it's a brilliant idea. I would join because it's a safe option for women."

Pink Ladies is not classed as a taxi firm and due to the members-only nature of the service does not need a private hire licence.

Legally, drivers fall into the same category as chauffeurs, where people pay for a contract with the company.

Pink Ladies charge similar prices to a standard taxi or private hire vehicle.

k.wood@hdmp.co.uk

Links

Pink Ladies

www.pinkladiesmembers.co.uk

Humberside Police

www.humberside.police.uk
........................................................

But presumably the Pink Ladies' view is that the continual contract is with the club? Whether or not that would be deemed within the legislation is a moot point, but that's presumably the basis on which they are proceeding.

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

I definately agree with you but I would love to see the content of their contract. After all, the legislation does stipulate "contract for hire".

75. B. Nothing in this Part of this Act shall apply to a vehicle used only for carrying passengers for hire or reward under a "contract for the hire of the vehicle" for a period of not less than seven days

The club aspect in my opinion is a red herring and I would expect a court to look at the terms of the contract, how it was applied, what was the nature and purpose of the service and if it was specificaly contrived to circumvent the mischief in the 1976 legislation?

Regards

JD

Yes, it's certainly extremely artificial and contrived, thus to that extent should be considered to be intended to circumvent the Act.

Like the de facto plate 'transfers' in Edinburgh.

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

And fingers crossed, it's all going to end from October.

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IDFIMH

I emailed a Newspaper back in July and today i recived this reply. I've edited out the contact name and mail address etc for obvious reasons.
My reply is at the bottom.

Subject: Pink Ladies

Dear Geoff I was interested in your e-mail of July 15th about the Pink Ladies taxis. I didn't publish it because I wanted to investigate it as I didn't know whether or not what you suggested was true. The reason for the delay on this is that the council has only just come back to me on it. However, what you say is quite true. The guy I spoke to said that the Pink Ladies (nationally) are franchised and due to a loophole in the law they are unlicensed. Other private hire vehicles have to take the Local Knowledge test which is apparently quite hard to do and are CRB tested to make sure drivers are up to standard and are regulated. However, the council held a forum on this very subject and invited the Department of Transport to attend. They couldn't attend but requested the notes of the meeting. Apparently this loophole is a concern in other parts of the country too. From that the DOT is now proposing to close this loophole with changes to the Road Safety Act in October. Companies like Pink Ladies will then be given a time limit in which to comply with the law. The chap at the council - ******** - says one of the reasons is because it's difficult to get drivers and, I suppose as Pink Ladies wants only women drivers that cuts down their options. But, as you suggested, it does make you wonder about insurance cover and safety. I'm going to pass this information on to one of my reporters to do something on this. Hope it helps.


Dear ******

Thanks for your reply regarding Pink Ladies a link: http://taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3877
to a very informative web site that has a long discussion on the subject is here.
As you are aware the danger to people, espcially women (who Pink ladies are promoting to look after) are many when traveling in unlicenced vehicles, this practice should be stopped immediatley. Maybe it will take a serious accident or even fatality to a passenger to finally reveal whether the practice is in fact legal. But of course by then it may be to late for some unfortunate woman.
Please feel free to ask for any information you may require on the above web site, there are many legal documents that will help your reporter to gain an insight into the loophole they belive they have found.

Regards
smiffyz

of course, the DFT's proposed deletion of section 75 (b) will hopefully stop this type of practice.

CC

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

Well done Geoff, I'm glad you finally got a reply from your efforts. Its good too see you guys out there are making people sit up and take notice.

Now if the NTA and every other representative body got their act together and wrote to the DfT about national quality driver standards then we might be able to stem the tide of the current crop of Eastern Europeans before the other half of eastern Europe invades our shores, next year? lol

Regards

JD