Taxi Driver Online

Private hire drivers' anger over stickers

www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk!

Private hire car drivers face suspension if they refuse to put Hull City Council stickers on their cars.

But drivers say they were not consulted and have not been reassured about what damage the stickers could cause.

The stickers – which will be placed on their rear doors of vehicles – aim to help passengers identify licensed vehicles and avoid using rogue taxis.
Patrick Ewick, 43, of north Bransholme, drives for Sutton Cars.

He said: "I'm really gutted. I don't want to put the stickers on, but I can't afford to lose my job. I have a family, mortgage and car to pay for."
Mr Ewick thinks the stickers will make his car a target for vandals and believes the quality of private hire vehicles in the city will drop.

He said: "Why would I spend £10,000 on a car when I could get one for £2,500 and not be bothered about putting stickers on it?"

Keith Jackson, 60, has been driving taxis since 1967.

He protested about the plans last year and researched having boxes on top of vehicles, like driving school cars often use.

Mr Jackson said: "The council needs to make taxis more identifiable because of rogue taxi drivers and I completely understand that.

"The boxes would cost more, but I would be prepared to pay towards that to save putting these stickers on my doors."

Councillor Anita Harrison, who represents Bransholme East, said: "I think the drivers are being penalised for something that's happening in society. The council should be big enough to say if it's got it wrong."

Councillor Kalvin Neal, a licensing committee member, said: "We have every sympathy with the drivers because they drive their own cars, but the interpretation of the law is the vehicles are always a taxi."

Drivers are hoping the matter will be reviewed at the next committee meeting on Monday, October 13.

A council spokesman said: "Feedback about the new stickers will be reported back to members of the licensing committee as a matter of course."

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

The stickers will not make your 200,000 mile Skoda any cheaper when you bin it off, cos the motor will be worth f*** all anyway.

But you should have been consulted. Maybe the council consulted just the bosses not the workers.

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IDFIMH

I think they have been consulted....Mr Jackson says he knew about the plans last year and has been researching top boxes.

CC

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

Maybe they dont want identified when they do ilegal pick ups, but where dose the council get once a taxi always a taxi from??????, They are not taxis they are bloody PH

what chance do you have when even the council make the blunders?

if my stickers damage my paintwork ill shall bill the LA for a respray
cant see any problem myself.

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

I own a phv its a minibus. we have to have council stickers on every door that a passenger can get in. then the council changed it to just the back doors because of the firms advertising on both front doors. anyway to my point use god dam magnets, i do they dont damage the paintwork and you can take them off when you finish a shift. "Its not rocket science"

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posted new E7 problems.

Take them of at the end of the shift!!!! I don't think so. Once plated the vehicle remains plated until the plates are returned so the door badges have to remain in place all the time.

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Grandad,

PH/Taxi Plates are permanent Plates thats fair enuff...but where does it say that the HCC Stickers have stay on when the Vehicle is not operating as a PH/Taxi Vehicle? I'd bet it aint written anywhere..

It does in the borough of Crewe & Nantwich, they state that magnetic signs must not be used on Private Hire vehicles, so i could imagine other councils could include the same rule.

These are magnetic signs supplied by the council to identify the vehicle as a licensed private hire vehicle.

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Grandad,

I'll bet it will form part of the licensing conditions

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Grandad,

In London PHV's keep there stickers on all the time cause with them they don't have to pay the congestion charge.
If there are hundreds of cars, vans, sports vehicles and trucks that have been licensed as PHV just so they don't have to pay the CC.
How the hell they get plated god only knows.
Also in London, parking wardens (CEO's) give vehicles with PHV stickers a wide birth.

I'm not sure that's the reason for keeping them on, more likely the fact that under their licensing conditions they can't take them off.

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IDFIMH

Bloody hell Sussex I put the same thing 2 posts back! We actually agree on something, we had better watch out people will start to talk.

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Grandad,

Shall I order a hat