Taxi Driver Online

I considered putting this in the "Licensing and Legal" section but feel that it may attract a better response here.


We have a situation whereby we have "Taxi Marshalls" in an area called "Grey Friars Road". This road is quite lengthy (probably 600 yards beginning to end) and can be busy particularly on a Saturday night. One section of the road is designated as a temporary taxi rank manned by the Marshalls. Unfortunately we have one Marshall in particular who is over zealous in trying to MAKE drivers pick up from the rank only, TELLING/INSTRUCTING quite forcibly drivers that they cannot stop at any other part of the road (even though they may not be anywhere near the rank) to pick up passengers, and also TELLING/INSTRUCTING members of the public quite forcibly that they have GOT to go to the rank to get a taxi and CANNOT get in even though they may have flagged one down.

The situation is that the police are now doing exactly the same from one end of the road to the other. It is now at the point that even if a passenger has the door open to get in.............. they are TELLING/INSTRUCTING them to get out...............and that they MUST go to the rank.

Last night I was flagged by a member of the public and was forced to lose a lucrative fare because of this policy - cannot get in............MUST go to the rank 200 yards down the road.

Any thoughts on the legality of this situation re the Marshall TELLING/INSTRUCTING the public + the police doing the same.

Are they acting outside their remit?

Would this come under restraint of trade, as the public can hail a cab and I can legally pick up.

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

The trade are paying for the marshals out of their crazy license fees.

Insist on the rank operating how you (the trade) want, and if they don't play ball, then boot them out for a new firm.

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IDFIMH

At the end of the day if your not stopping illegally on zigzags ect ,who can stop you taking a job ? A polite get to feck might be appropriate

This is an absolutely crazy situation.

It would seem that the Police want to do less and less, and to then charge the population for letting them do less and less!

First of all it was beneath them to control traffic parking i.e tickets - so we now employ Traffic Wardens! Then they decide that they have not got the time (although they stand around in large groups most of the time talking) to control taxi ranks, so they decide to bring in Taxi Marshalls that comes (I believe) out of their budget. The cost becomes too much to them so the TM's are taken off of the streets! They then realise that they do have their advantages ( because they have had to do a bit of work) and bring them back. Somewhere along the line "Home Office funding" came into it which seems to have dried up.

The bottom line seems to be, is that the trade who never asked for it.............now have to pay for it!!!!!!! time for a VERY big boycott of all Marshalled ranks - see as to how they like that one.

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

Try telling that one to a copper - this is why I need to know............are they acting outside of their remit.

From our local Cardiff.gov site it stipulates in a "Frequently asked questions" section, and I quote........................The difference between a Hackney carriage and a Private hire "A Hackney vehicle is allowed to pick up from any street within Cardiff without the fare being pre-booked."

There is no mention of police or marshall powers. Obviously in an emergency the police have all the authority that they need.............but to tell drivers and punters that they cannot trade!! Is out of order in my book.

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

Ask them (via e-mail) what powers they have to do what they are doing.

But you need to act as a trade, not as a single driver.

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IDFIMH

Tbh I do not see as to why it should make a difference, apart from the clout that a Federation might carry. The law or legislation/whatever should work for all, and not just because you have some muscles.

I will send a letter off to our L.A asking the relevant questions and will get back to anyone that is interested, any other input will be readily accepted and digested. One thing for sure is I will not be taking any crap off of a taxi marshall.

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

The difference is that if you complain on your own, you are just one person who is not happy with the situation and everyone else is happy. You need to complain collectively. I am finding this out with our council.

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Grandad,

I cannot remember off hand the exact wording but, legally they are correct.
You cannot pick up on the same street or in view of a rank, unless pre booked but, if your on the rank you can legally take the punters as its there prerogative what cab they choose

Because they will ignore you.

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IDFIMH

As it is an individual "Marshall" doing the damage without the authority to act as he is, I am wondering if a notice issued to prosecute/sue the individual might just be enough to stop him/them i.e damage to earnings etc

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

You can pick up where you want,thats just a gentlemens agreement not being near a rank.

Any idea where this comes from Skippy. Council are also trying to herd the public a hundred metres or so to a rank, but public are ignoring signs and flagging down taxis at normal location. Causing a lot of confusion. This weekend taxis just went back to old rank to save the aggro.

It comes from skippyland,la la or whatever you want to call his imagination

We have a "cannot pick up from a set distance from a working rank" here (the distance I forget).
Unless you have a similar condition you are free to pick up any street hail or booking.