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Chauffeur Driver, legalities.
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Author:  lancsdriver [ Sat Sep 22, 2012 4:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Chauffeur Driver, legalities.
I hope this is the right place to ask a few questions?

I have been told of a chauffeur company looking to take on drivers, I have never done this line of work before but quite fancy giving it a go.

Before i ramble on am I in the right place? This being a Taxi driver forum.

Thanks

LD
Author:  gusmac [ Sat Sep 22, 2012 4:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Chauffeur Driver, legalities.
It's as good a place as any. Fire away.
Author:  lancsdriver [ Sat Sep 22, 2012 5:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Chauffeur Driver, legalities.
Well on this face of it all looks ok, they have plenty of decent cars a lot of good high profile clients.

But from speeking to a couple of lads who work there what I am not sure is about actual licensing, i.e what I need to get licensed properly.

They tell me that I don't have to be licensed because they have some sort of dispensation, can this be right? The cars dont have any "plates"

I need the work but dont want to be caught doing anything illegal. Fell foul of that a few years ago so dont want to go down that road again.
Author:  roythebus [ Sat Sep 22, 2012 6:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Chauffeur Driver, legalities.
The dispensation was abolished a few years ago; that was for long-term contracts such as some of those that may have been held by this operator and their clients.

In my view, ANY car that is used for hire and reward needs to be licenced as private hire. the drivers too need to be properly licenced and and of course the cars need hire and reward insurance. It "could" be this operator is licenced and has dispensation from displaying private hire plates.

The money may be good, but the fines if caught operating illegally will be proportionate! you will also be prevented from operating legally as local authorities tend to ban you from holding a private hire or taxi licence for ever for this sort of offence.

A lot of the "courtesy industry" cars intended for Olympic use were warned and made to get properly licenced with TfL following representations from the industry. even though they weren't carrying the general public for hire and reward, they were indeed carrying passengers for hire and reward.
Author:  Sussex [ Sat Sep 22, 2012 7:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Chauffeur Driver, legalities.
lancsdriver wrote:
Well on this face of it all looks ok, they have plenty of decent cars a lot of good high profile clients.

But from speeking to a couple of lads who work there what I am not sure is about actual licensing, i.e what I need to get licensed properly.

They tell me that I don't have to be licensed because they have some sort of dispensation, can this be right? The cars dont have any "plates"

I need the work but dont want to be caught doing anything illegal. Fell foul of that a few years ago so dont want to go down that road again.

To take people from A to B for payment/profit you need to be licensed, as does the vehicle you will drive.

Anyone who says different is lying.
Author:  bloodnock [ Sat Sep 22, 2012 7:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Chauffeur Driver, legalities.
Sussex wrote:
lancsdriver wrote:
Well on this face of it all looks ok, they have plenty of decent cars a lot of good high profile clients.

But from speeking to a couple of lads who work there what I am not sure is about actual licensing, i.e what I need to get licensed properly.

They tell me that I don't have to be licensed because they have some sort of dispensation, can this be right? The cars dont have any "plates"

I need the work but dont want to be caught doing anything illegal. Fell foul of that a few years ago so dont want to go down that road again.

To take people from A to B for payment/profit you need to be licensed, as does the vehicle you will drive.

Anyone who says different is lying.



Unless your In Scotland where the Exemption still applies for single 24 hour contracts.

But with a username such as Lancsdriver I'd very much doubt that that's the case.
Author:  lancsdriver [ Sat Sep 22, 2012 9:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Chauffeur Driver, legalities.
The company is based in Cheshire, I live in Sth Lancs.

I will try to make a few more enquiries as to how this exemption/dispensation works.

Would I need a CRB check & medical?
Author:  wannabeeahack [ Sat Sep 22, 2012 9:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Chauffeur Driver, legalities.
Sussex wrote:
lancsdriver wrote:
Well on this face of it all looks ok, they have plenty of decent cars a lot of good high profile clients.

But from speeking to a couple of lads who work there what I am not sure is about actual licensing, i.e what I need to get licensed properly.

They tell me that I don't have to be licensed because they have some sort of dispensation, can this be right? The cars dont have any "plates"

I need the work but dont want to be caught doing anything illegal. Fell foul of that a few years ago so dont want to go down that road again.

To take people from A to B for payment/profit you need to be licensed, as does the vehicle you will drive.

Anyone who says different is lying.


unless its a wedding car service
Author:  wannabeeahack [ Sat Sep 22, 2012 9:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Chauffeur Driver, legalities.
lancsdriver wrote:
The company is based in Cheshire, I live in Sth Lancs.

I will try to make a few more enquiries as to how this exemption/dispensation works.

Would I need a CRB check & medical?


have the othet drivers got badges?
Author:  lancsdriver [ Sat Sep 22, 2012 9:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Chauffeur Driver, legalities.
"Have the other drivers got badges?"

wannabeeahack,

Not that I have seen.

They do do weddings but that is only a small part of the work.
Author:  roythebus [ Sun Sep 23, 2012 8:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Chauffeur Driver, legalities.
lancsdriver wrote:
The company is based in Cheshire, I live in Sth Lancs.

I will try to make a few more enquiries as to how this exemption/dispensation works.

Would I need a CRB check & medical?
There is NO dispensation or exemption from private hire or hackney licencing. The only reason "it works" is lack of enforcement from the local authority.

To get a p/h or hack licence you will need a medical and CRB check. You said earlier you'd been caught before for "something", that will certainly show up on your CRB check and may lead to difficulties getting your licence, especially if it was for no insuarnce/licence etc.

Cars used for weddings and funerals are exempt from licencing but need to be insured for hire and reward.

In my view the only legal way to do chuaffering(where's the spell check) is if a company, say South Lancs Enterprise Ltd. owns or leases a car to convey its own staff or business associates and hires a driver to drive it, whether he be employed by SLE Ltd', a driver agency, or a self-employed casual and passengers do not pay to travel in any way, shape or form. Rout v Swallow Hotel is the case to read.
Author:  no tips [ Sun Sep 23, 2012 11:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Chauffeur Driver, legalities.
Go to the council and ask them , if you work for this company what licenses do you need. Go to the Organ grinder not the monkey.
Author:  Sussex [ Sun Sep 23, 2012 5:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Chauffeur Driver, legalities.
lancsdriver wrote:
Would I need a CRB check & medical?

To work legally yes, to work illegally no.
Author:  Sussex [ Sun Sep 23, 2012 5:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Chauffeur Driver, legalities.
wannabeeahack wrote:
unless its a wedding car service

Hopefully the LC will note my comments and change that. :D
Author:  wannabeeahack [ Sun Sep 23, 2012 10:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Chauffeur Driver, legalities.
Sussex wrote:
wannabeeahack wrote:
unless its a wedding car service

Hopefully the LC will note my comments and change that. :D



im sure they will listen, just like any government official body.....with deaf ears
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