grandad wrote:
I suppose you will be telling us next that because it is being used for SDP that the wife/partner can drive it without having a badge.
Not sure who you're replying to but, as I said earlier, my own view is that you can't have a hard and fast distinction between using vehicle as an HC or PHV commercially, and using it privately. Take the hard and fast distinction to its logical conclusion and you wouldn't be able to use a licenced vehicle privately at all.
So although the requirement for a badged driver and to keep plates attached maybe quite clear cut, not so sure about other aspects like seating, meters and driver conduct.
For what it's worth, I'm sure that in Scotland the requirement for a badged driver isn't quite so clear cut - can't remember where now, but recall reading that police in Aberdeen turned a blind eye to spouse use of car - not sure precisely what the law is, but think it's just one of these grey areas that the authorities turn a blind eye to, and the law would really need clarifying in court, but it's all just swept under the carpet.
Which brings us on, obviously, to the can of worms about garage mechanics and even council employees road testing HCs and PHVs.
Recall at least one big thread on here about mechanics road testing cars, and not sure if it was ever properly resolved.
But up here must be very few licenced cars that haven't been road tested by a mechanic without a badge, and here the council's employees drive the car onto the public roads to test the meter. The latter may have a badge, but I'm not sure, but pretty sure garage mechanics don't.
