Taxi Driver Online

First off, I drive a saloon.

One of my colleagues on our local forum has raised the vexed issue of folding seats in multi-seaters.

As I understand the situation, some of these vehicles have folding seats, adjacent to a sliding door, that permit access to fixed seating further towards the rear of the vehicle. When the folding seats are in use, the occupants of the fixed seats have no direct exit from the vehicle.

The LO has always insisted that the folding seats should be removed and reduces the licenced capacity of the vehicle accordingly. It would appear that only one other borough in the region has a similar policy.

On the assumption that I have interpreted the position correctly, has anyone else come across this situation?

What are the legalities of the LO's position?

As always, views and opinions very much appreciated.

whatever the LA wants, the LA gets, simples

all you can do is work around it

there 8 pass (9 seaters) out there with no FOLDING seat, the Tourneo has a middle row seat with access to the back, which is increased by tipping the back of the seat forward, ask if thats acceptable, otherwise you will need "conference" seating

just 1 small point, joe public SOMETIMES fails to grasp that a car holds 4, when theres 8 of em they should be paying more (say 50%), not the car price as otherwise the operator may as well not bother and offer 2 cars...

so operators should realise it too



plan b - get a 12 seater minibus, take some seats out...[/img]

They can do, and often do, what they dam well like until a court tells them otherwise.

Many councils insist that the sixth seat is taken out of vehicle like the Galaxy or the Puegeot.

Which doesn't make sense when the council next door doesn't.

_________________
IDFIMH

you also have to decide "do you want luggage space" because even my tourneo could struggle with 7 passengers going long haul for 2 weeks

in fact once i had to book a non-plated mate just to fetch luggage!

if you want maximum space (and can plate one) a VW LWB transporter is good, or a SWB transit 12 seater with the back rows out

Thanks chaps.

Looking at it from the othr side:

Is anyone aware of a LA who licence such an arrangement without pre-conditions?

Liverpool & Cheshire East to name but 2.

Scottish Borders no restrictions and at a rough guess 80% of the Uk councils in either hack or PH

Lewes.

_________________
IDFIMH

some LAs will plate a skip, others want nothing but (thier) idael vehicles

ask em, involve em, suck up to em, ..... if thats what it takes