Taxi Driver Online

Taxi driver claims council rules not 'fare'
A CITY cab driver has threatened to sue the city council after licensing chiefs refused to let him pick up fares in his new, top of the range car.

Sagvieth Alam, a father of three from Longford, recently spent £4,000 on a top of the range W-reg Honda Accord V.TEC to replace his current car, only to be told by council chiefs the car was too small.

Mr Alam decided to buy a Honda Accord after spotting a number of fellow city cabbies driving the car.

But council's current method of deciding whether a car can be driven as a taxi relies on whether a special frame fits into the back seat of the car.

Mr Alam's Accord fell short by barely an inch - and ironically, if he had bought a cheaper Accord model his car would have passed the test.

Mr Sagvieth, a cab driver for over five years, said he did not understand the council's hardline stance on the issue.

"It's a top of the range car, so it's very comfortable and has fantastic safety features including rear passenger airbags," he told The Observer.

“The council have told me to change the panels in the back, but even then no promises were made I'd be able to use the car for work.”

Mr Alam has submitted a formal complaint to the council and has considered taking legal action if the case remains unresolved.

He also has the backing of Coventry North East MP Bob Ainsworth, who said there needed to be a more reliable system to gauge the space requirements for taxis.

“Surely it would be better for the taxi registration office to produce a list of those vehicles which meet the necessary requirements on both safety and comfort," Mr Ainsworth said.

"If this system was adopted it would ensure people knew which vehicles were acceptable to be used as a taxi before they bought them.”

Ted Hiscocks, the city council's transportation policy team manager, said the council was sympathetic to Mr Alam's plight.

But he added: "Unfortunately if the standard frame used to judge the capacity of the rear seating of a vehicle will not fit, we cannot issue a licence.

"Mr Alam has now submitted a formal complaint about his case to the city council and we are awaiting the outcome.”

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

Aww £4K down the pan, maybe should have bought a proper vehicle for the job?

Captain cab

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

If they license them already, then I think he could have a good case.

They are either fit for the job, or they are not.

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IDFIMH

Its too small, if there was any real question surely the guy should have contacted his LO and stated what he was thinking about buying?

Captain cab

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

If others are driving them I bet he thought he was ok to get one, I can remember when a lad in Sutton got a Astra the Council plated it then took it off again because it was too small.

it must of been real top of the range at 4000 pounds i wonder what the bog standard cars are worth but as i have sid before o for a level playing fieild same rules from top to bottom side to side then we can all get 4000pound top of the range cars

Hi

At the end of the day I am not sure how the courts in England would look at the merits of this case but there as already precident here in Scotland , which is being appealed, that Councils have a wide discretion in determining what types of vehicle are suitable to be licensed (i.e. they can make the rules up as they go along !)

Cheers

lol, beat to that one tcabbie, real 'top of the range' motor he's got their for £4K.

This should serve as a reminder to check with the council before purchasing any new vehicle.

I know of a case where a lad bought a Peugeot 206 sw and later found it would not be plated because of its heavily tinted windows.

Always check with the council first.

In my opinion anything smaller than a Vectra or Mondeo is too small - i.e. the Focus, Astra, Accord etc.

LAs have all sorts of rules that you need to look into before purchasing a new vehicle.

I know of a bloke on PH who bought a Vauxhall Zafira hoping to be able to carry 6 passengers but the council said it was too small and they would only plate it for 4 passengers.

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Visit TAXIPIX at www.taxipix.fotopic.net

we are getting loads of zafira licensed in our area all as 6 seaters hack and ph

Presumably it has something to do with the top of the range model having its dimensions constrained in the back, perhaps due to the rear air bags?


But looks like a good case for the exercise of a bit of discretion methinks, because it seems unlikely that either the driver or the LO should know about this in advance.

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

I agree, but I thought the Accord was Vectra/Mondeo sized?

It's cerainly usually classed as a family car rather than small family.

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk