Taxi Driver Online

Press Cuttings Monthly… Readers email on 5th October 2006

Ref: September 2006 issue pages 55 & 56

Dear Sirs,

Having just read your chauffeur news section, I noticed an all too popular misconception and misinterpretation of the rules by the trade and authorities (local and national).
The wording that shows an error is:
"The law states that any vehicle that has 8 passenger seats or less and is used for hire or reward needs to be licensed as a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Vehicle"

I believe that you will find that the word "reward" is not part of the regulations and therefore ANY vehicle provided for the transfer of passengers, be it a hotel, pub, club airport transfer, dodgy Dave limos' etc., should not be licensed.
This issue is the biggest "can of worms" in the passenger transport industry, that nobody, including the government and its agencies wish to open. It would have a huge impact on the "industry" if anybody had the guts to do so!

Regards

Kevin Wyatt

Orchard Transport Services
Tel: +44 (0)1626 203840

I think Kevin is or has been living in a little world with fairies and munchkins

CC

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

You're actually saying the opposite.

The fact that hire does appear, means there need not be a reward, just a hiring.

But thanks for seeing it our way, even if you don't.

_________________
IDFIMH

With all due respect to Mr Wyatt I don't think he grasps the legalities attached to the legislation applying to hire or reward? Every vehicle that undertakes hire or reward has to be licensed, the seating capacity determines which legislation it should be licensed under and unless the activity fits into any of the exemptions in the 1976 act then a vehicle with 8 passenger seats or less must have a license under the 1976 LGMPA. There is also a facility under PSV legislation to license vehicles with less than 8 seats who undertake a fixed route bus service allied to a time table.

The case law for hire or reward is well documented as we all know and perhaps Mr Wyatt should pay TDO a visit if he wishes to understand the legalities of the legislation.

Regards

JD

If you have nine Seat's in your vehicle who licenses it then.

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

If you have nine passenger seats and want to use all of them, the local authority won't license you. So where does that leave you?

Many Limos have more than eight seats but they wont get a P/H license to carry more than 8 passengers.

JD

The vehicle then becomes a bus and if used for hire or reward a PSV. Transport commission licence vehicles and drivers and an O licence is required to operate.
Regulations are far tighter.
Depending on what work is undertaken subsodies could be available.

That should go for all vehicles which carry more than 8 passengers.

B. Lucky

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"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

Are you sure , I would check if I were you , nine seats remember.....

_________________
Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!