Taxi Driver Online

Bournemouth cabbies lose appeal against taking exam


TWO taxi drivers who went to court over Bournemouth council’s controversial policy that all cabbies need to pass an exam have lost their case.

The drivers had had their licences suspended by the council because they had failed to pass a Transporting Passengers by Taxi and Private Hire course within three years.

On Wednesday, they took their case to Bournemouth Magistrates Court but deputy district judge Mr Pattinson said he could not challenge or comment on the council policy.

He refused both appeals on the basis that the drivers had not obtained the necessary BTEC qualification and ordered them to pay £500 each towards the council’s legal costs.

Two other drivers, who had also had their licences suspended, had their appeals dismissed as they had since gone on and achieved the required qualification. They also had to pay £500 each towards the council’s legal costs.

Cllr Andrew Morgan, chair of the licensing board, said: “With more and more drivers working to gain their qualification, the council anticipates that all Bournemouth taxi and private hire vehicles will soon have an appropriately qualified driver at the wheel.

“This sets the standard for other local authorities to follow.”

Since the council set the qualification policy in February 2005, just under 1,000 drivers have successfully qualified.

The handful of drivers that have not yet managed to gain a BTEC are being given help in working towards the qualifications.

Bournemouth council is the first in the country to require such a qualification and licensing board members have previously admitted that getting all drivers to comply has been “a painful process”.

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

Some of those Go Skills mob will be able to retire on the money they must have made down there.

Let's hope none of that money made it way were it shouldn't have.

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IDFIMH

Legally represented or not?

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

Where's that

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

I heard on our grapevine that our LA are also going to force us to do this by 2010.

I've not heard anything from them though and until I do I won't be taking no poxy test that supposedly tells me how to do the job I've been doing for 17 years.

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IDFIMH

JD,

Has decision has been on the cards since the DSA driving test case at Darlington?

(IMO it has been btw)

regards

CC

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

I wonder about this......like I wonder about the DSA test.

Surely a council has to prove such requirements are 'reasonably necessary'?

I can understand such courses being adopted if the LA is always in receipt of complaints about drivers......but to adopt a course to make them feel better?

Not too sure.

CC

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

I missed this post.

Should it read,

This decision has been on the cards since the DSA driving test case at Darlington?

I think the Darlington case has set a precedent of sorts but I think a good Barrister might be able to turn that around.

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

Yes it should

regards

CC

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

[quote="captain cab"]Bournemouth cabbies lose appeal against taking exam


Two other drivers, who had also had their licences suspended, had their appeals dismissed as they had since gone on and achieved the required qualification. They also had to pay £500 each towards the council’s legal costs.

not that they had a lot of choice in the matter, they obviously had to choose between job or no job if they didnt take it. nice choice

They had no choice. But maybe someone down there should have pointed this out to them before they went to court.

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IDFIMH