Taxi Driver Online

Mobile Booking System For 'taxis' Is Legal

Thursday, August 27, 2009

A controversial mobile booking system used by a Hull private taxi hire firm has been declared legal by the council's licensing department.

As reported in the Mail, Six O Cars, of Walton Street, west Hull, has employed a "mobile booker" to stand at locations such as Paragon Interchange in the city centre.

When asked to order a cab, the mobile booker uses a handheld computer, or PDA, to send the information back to base and print out a receipt for the customer.

The city's black cab drivers, who are able to pick up fares without booking, are reportedly unhappy about the system, which is a first for Hull, seeing it as a direct threat to their livelihoods.

But after investigating a complaint, Hull City Council's licensing department found the system to be above board, as long as no soliciting of fares takes place.

In a letter to David Smith, one of the firm's partners, it said: "After seeking legal advice, the authority's view is that this activity does not constitute any offence under licensing or any other related legislation – providing the employee does not "solicit" passers-by to hire the operator's vehicles.

"The authority's view is that any operator offering the above service in the manner described is providing a lawful means for customers to book licensed private hire vehicles at peak periods and, as a result of this, customers are dispersed from the city centre more quickly and efficiently.

"This is clearly in the public interest as it also helps to ensure members of the public looking for transport choose properly licensed vehicles."

Mr Smith said the company was "very pleased" with the decision.

He said: "It's a vindication of what we thought would be the case.

"We have had lots of positive comments from the public.

"We have now got two mobile bookers, principally in Princes Avenue, and will consider more.

"If this continues as it has started, we have to take advantage of it."

Mr Smith said some amendments had been made following clarification from the council.

He said: "We were handing out cards and it has been made clear by the council we can't do that.

"We have done further training with our mobile booker to ensure everything is above board."

Mr Smith said Hackney carriage drivers should not be worried.

He said: "A lot of private hire firms in the city don't have the technology we do and so they won't all put someone on the street.

"People are always going to want the convenience of a black cab and we can't be everywhere at once."

Source; ThisIsHullandEastRiding.co.uk

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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Another Licensing Officer trained at Muppet University.

Does the mobile booker have a street trader license from the council?

How do the public know the reason the mobile booker is standing where he is standing if he is not touting for work?

Do the council put an address on the PH operator license or is the address just 'any place in Hull'?

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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How on earth is he going to get any trade if he doesn't 'solicit'?

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IDFIMH

http://www.hullcc.gov.uk/portal/page?_p ... ema=PORTAL

Anyone have any idea what this council is on about in the first paragraph

Why would a night club require a licence??? for taxi and PH work

Yes that's correct; the reward does not have to be money & in the case of a nightclub offering free rides to the club the reward is for the club to have customers, brought by the free transport to spend money at the nightclub.

There was a recent case were a pub owner was successfully prosecuted for doing the same thing; providing free transport to his pub, without the vehicle or driver being licensed.

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

He was useing a tuck tuck, and getting the punters himself, and the council said he was doing taxis and pH out of work

This is another case of fat sams central, lo are only interested in getting the streets cleared on busy nights and interpreted the law to suit themselves.Hopefully our legal action will put a stop to this.

FFS has that licencing official lost the plot, the police are arresting touts in London for that, when they get the time

.....WHERE IS THE PROVISION MADE>???!!

does the PERSON who is a MOBILE BOOKER hold an operators licence????

Hmmm...Theres Pubs and Hotels in this area that offer a courtesy run in and a run home service minibus/car to entice beer swillers..I guess they to should be licenced then?

Then theres the odd local with their Mobility supplied car who has nothing better to do than drive folk back and forth from the pubs at nights as its the only way they get anyone to talk to...is that to a form of reward?

I think you know the new council contact number blood

This has been illegal in E & W since January 2008.
Not in Scotland though. We still have the 24hr contract exemption (provided they only do work for one establishment in any 24 hr period).
About time it was scrapped here too.

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