Taxi Driver Online

Just wondering if any readers have any views on whether this judgement has implications for local authority taxi dress code restrictions ?

http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2005/199.html

Cheers

Without reading the judgement I doubt if it means that LAs can't tell schoolkids to dress smartly, if that's what you are alluding to.

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

I think that dress codes are very hard to enforce. Maybe a council could state that drivers should be smart and clean, but when they try to define smart and clean it starts getting difficult.

I think it a lot easier for firms to have dress codes, but when it comes down to taxis which just work the ranks, then maybe it should be the existing trade pointing out to them that they are smelly scruffy so and so's.

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IDFIMH

I ment to say that this ruling could present problems for L.A.'s that have strict dress codes which don't take religious apparel into consideration eg. Renfrewshire Council

Our dress restriction is plain tie, plain shirt, navy or black dress trousers, black dress shoes; no mention of exemptions for religious groups

Cheers

You are probably correct Mr RD, but has there been a problem in Renfrewshire in this regard?

I've never heard of any problems elsewhere, in fact I doubt if any LA would not allow exemptions on religous grounds.

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

It seems to me that council's can make anything they want to a condition of license, be that a dress code, or a vehicle, or a vehicle colour, even down to a colour shade, (Derby), wether you can or cannot smoke, eat, drink, carry advertising, increase fares, they do it because they can, and they challenge you to challenge them. Take the blighters to court if you feel strongly enough about it. Kiss your house goodbye in legal fees in the process though, mea culpa!

I dont care what the LA say, I'm not gonna wear a dress.

Captain cab

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

Well at least not whilst you are working.

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IDFIMH

Dundee has a dress code,no jeans,T shirts,trainers.
Still see the lads going about this the latter.
Although the majority are smartly dressed.
Still some rather smelly creatures though,also customers.
The oddball still,transvestite charlie.

Yes, wise comments there Jimbo.

A lot of LA policies re the trade could easily be defeated in court, but even assuming that those affected know the law, actually taking action is a different matter, and not an easy course of action.

That's not to say that I disagree with some of the things that LAs do policy wise, but just that they wouldn't stand up in court.

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

for every 1 condition that one agrees with there are probably several others that most dont,,when it comes to la rules and conditions, but we dont really have a choice and legaly standing up in court to dispute some conditons is a no hoper as most of us are more than likely to just trying to make ends meet rather than spending in way of legal fees. One such recent issue with our local council was after i passed my new cars taxi inspection for the grant of a car licence. The letter stated you must bring in your insurance within 5 days of inspection pass including the day of the inspection,,so i scrimped a bit here and there,,paid 450 pounds for a 3 month policy,,,took it into the office with pass certificate only to be told casually,, well write to you in 2 weeks to collect your plates. Now this 2 weeks that my unplated car is sitting will cost me as its not yet being used as a taxi,,yet ive been forced to pay for insurance for private hire,,,wouldnt it be easier to say bring in policy when we write to you to collect your plates ??? stupidity imo. The biggest threat to this trade is the councils that regulate us,,,

I have said this for years, great to hear from someone with the same thoughts on the matter.