Taxi Driver Online

Taxi drivers to meet over spot-checks on vehicles
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/468 ... _vehicles/

HUNDREDS of taxi drivers will meet with Bolton Council tonight to discuss what they say are unfair checks on their vehicles.

Between 300 and 400 private hire drivers are expected to attend the meeting at Quebec Hall, in Quebec Street, Deane.

They will be joined by representatives from the council and the police.

The drivers are unhappy that spot-checks on their cars are being done at weekends, their busiest time, and that vehicles are being forced out of use for allegedly minor issues.

Sajid Khan, of Bolton Private Hire Association, said: “The enforcement officers are taking minor faults, like side bulbs being out and stickers not being in the correct place, and suspending vehicles from being on the road. If it’s a mechanical issue, we don’t compromise on safety. But if it’s minor and can be rectified quickly, it’s unfair.

“If they suspend a taxi at the weekend, the driver can’t use it all weekend and will be losing their living.

“They always do them on Friday or Saturday night, which is our busiest time and is disruptive. Why not check them on weekdays?

“It is making things more difficult. There’s a credit crunch and we are getting harassed by enforcement officers.”

“The time has come for drivers to sit down and iron out these issues, we want them to attend and help us sort things out.”

Black cab drivers will also be in attendance to support their colleagues.

There are around 70 members of the Hackney Drivers Association in Bolton.

Spokesman Charles Oakes said: “We absolutely support the Private Hire Association and will be attending.

“The council are nit-picking and we are not happy with the checks either.”

Other issues at the meeting will include discussing the possibility of taxis using bus lanes, how taxi drivers are consulted and asking the police for more support when drivers are attacked or robbed.

The meeting starts at 7.30pm.

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

The moral of the story, check your fecking vehicles every day and rectify any problems, and carry spare bulbs

_________________
IDFIMH

As far as I am concerned I wouldn't have a problem with the checks at the weekend. I believe the council do these checks to obtain best results and to check more vehicles as more of them are out of a weekend. If they are minor faults, such as bulbs being out, then simply carrying spares is a solution.



This is no excuse not to keep up enforcement. I'm personally fed up of the recession being the reason why things shouldn't be done. When the recession is over will they be crying because they are too busy to be stopped

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

Is this before or after they voice their policy of non-co-operation over vehicle checks??

The "taxi" drivers dont seem to be doing too well in the vote.

CC

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

I agree with "toots". More cabs are available to check at weekends. A few of the ghost are out as well so perhaps the benefirts agency should be out then as well.

Taxis with minor faults to stay on road
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/469 ... y_on_road/



TAXI drivers will no longer be forced off the road for minor faults with their vehicles.

Around 200 private hire drivers complained about “nit-picking” when spot-checks are carried out on their vehicles.

They argued that cars should not be immediately suspended from use for minor faults, such as incorrectly placed stickers.

A meeting at the Quebec Hall, in Deane, last night, heard that 94 taxis were suspended after spot-checks in September and October.

But after hearing from angry drivers, Councillor Nick Peel, executive member for housing, neighbourhoods and regulation, said: “We will not be suspending cars that just have what we classify as a minor fault."

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

Now, their next problem is 'define a minor fault.' This could run and run!

I have a degree of sympathy for the drivers concerned, and actually support what Mr Oakes stated

If a vehicle has a bulb out fair enough, that can be changed straight away or within half an hour, stopping a vehicle for this reason is reasonable, provided discretion is used and the driver is permitted time to get the vehicle rectified.

We are all grown up enough to realise why do LO's stop vehicles at weekends........for the idiots out there its because they know all vehicles will be out?

The drivers in the area will be aware of the bad eggs amongst them, but they must also know that an LA must stop all vehicles......not just the few reported ones?

CC

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

I'll second that emoticon....

Tell you what though, he's like the buses Charles, no mention for ages, then two in two days of him (including in the "thank you" thread). I wonder if the third appearance will be to answer the comments on TDO?

I'm glad he's still alive and kicking. I was starting to worry. After one or two "debates" between them, Captain Cab and him seemed to stop posting around the same time (a month or two back), but only one returned....not that I thought you were capable of murder, CC