Taxi Driver Online

After a bit of advice.

The company I work for book a lot of taxis (HC and PH) in various parts of the UK for our business clients (we are not a taxi agency, we are a travel company with many buses and coaches). I have been approached by a guy who claims to have a vehicle tested by Cheshire and it is available for hire. It is not plated because of "dark windows" but does have some sort of small disc in the window. He has a dual drivers badge licensed for Cheshire and has a private hire operators licence.
He says he will need a written contract to carry out work as his vehicle is not plated

Any help much appreciated

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you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.

Contract exemption in E & W ended in 2008, didn't it?

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

I'm not sure of the date but it has ended. Unfortunatly some people prefer not to have noticed.

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Grandad,

I will assume that you are asking about Cheshire West and Chester

Executive or Chauffeur cars that do not want to display physical plates and door stickers have to follow the following rules which will corroborate what he is saying however every job would need to be booked in writing at least 24 hours in advance so you couldn`t just phone him up as he would be breaking his licence conditions.

12.0 SPECIAL CONDITIONS FOR PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLES WISHING TO BE EXEMPT FROM THE NEED TO DISPLAY THE CURRENT PRIVATE HIRE PLATES & WINDOW STICKERS
For the purpose of this document, such vehicles will be referred to as “Exempt” vehicles. Application may be made to the Council for a vehicle to be considered for Exempt status and each case will be determined on its own merits.
Standard Private Hire works means any bookings for journeys taken less than 24 hours before the commencement of the journey whereby no written contract is already in place.
12.1 The decision to grant or refuse an exemption for the display of the current private hire licence plates and window stickers will be that of the Licensing & Markets Manager for the Council.
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12.2 To qualify as Exempt, the vehicle must ideally be under five years old unless the vehicle is to be licensed under the Councils Conditions for Specialist Vehicles, be luxurious and of a higher specification than standard model vehicles and be of suitable size, appearance and design.
12.3 Any bookings for the undertaking of a journey in an Exempt vehicle must be made by way of a written contract. Such contracts must be in place for no less than 24 hours prior to the commencement of the journey.
12.4 Exempt vehicles may not undertake standard private hire work.
12.6 Exempt Vehicles that conduct Private Hire work without a written contract in place as per condition 12.3 will have their Exempt Vehicle status withdrawn. They will then be required to display Cheshire West & Chester standard Private Hire plates on the front and rear of the vehicle and window stickers.
12.7 Exempt Vehicles shall not display any external markings e.g. operator details or advertisements.
12.8 Exempt Vehicles shall not commence a booked journey from or within the immediate vicinity of any Private Hire Booking Facility, except in such cases where a pre-existing contract, as described in condition 12.3, is in place.
12.9 Vehicles qualifying for Exempt status will be required to display one or more Cheshire West & Chester Exempt Vehicle Discs denoting that the vehicle is a licensed private hire vehicle. Such discs shall be displayed within their holder in a prominent position such as the issuing officer deems necessary for that vehicle.
12.10 Vehicles qualifying for Exempt status will be required to carry a copy of their Private Hire Vehicle licence for inspection (on request) by any interested party.
12.11 In advance of the journey, the hirer must be advised that the vehicle dispatched to collect them will not be displaying standard Private Hire Vehicle Licence plates and window stickers.
12.12 Exempt Vehicles can only be driven by a Dual Licensed (Hackney Carriage/Private Hire) Driver who is licensed by the same authority from which the Exempt Vehicle Licence was issued.

With whom does the booking have to placed, the company or the driver who most likely is the owner of the exempted vehicle

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

The holder of the Operators Licence.

If his vehicle is not plated then no contract will ever make it legal.

It appears this vehicle is plated, but still needs a contract.

Ask to see a copy of his driver's/vehicle/operator's license. He must have all three.

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IDFIMH

Under the Rules quoted above the vehicle will actually be plated and the the exemption only refers to the fact that the plates and stickers don`t have to be displayed (a small discreet disc is used instead) This is only used by our council on exec cars.

Thanks everyone, and thanks to Hacked Off for the detailed description.

99.9% of our work is very short notice so looks like this is a none starter for the guy, nice to know that it is legit though in the right circumstances. We work for some very high profile clients so compliance is a huge priority for us.


Hacked Off/Admin
Would it be OK for me to print off the description so that our office staff are aware of the situation.

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you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.

No problem at all I got it from the CWAC website anyway, the full conditions can be found here if you want them

http://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.u ... olicy.aspx

Indeed a copy of the vehicle licence should be kept in the vehicle, and Tulsa alluded that he'd seen the other two?

Not sure if the short notice would be a problem if you have some kind of rolling contract in place in advance?

All it might require is the one contract.

Is the contract within the same district border? (sorry I aint maybe kept up)

The description as provided by 'hacked off' conditions doesnt appear to fit the conditions this chap could meet?

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 can't see how that's relevant. It doesn't seem to be in the conditions, and I can't think of any reason it should be.



Well Tulsablue merely mentioned that the requirement for a written contract was the problem, nothing else?

Evesham area have a "no plate plate" option, vehicle IS plated but carries no plate

technically a PH so pre-booked only OF COURSE

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