Taxi Driver Online

‘Risk to public’ warning over plans to relax licensing regulations for minicab drivers



RELAXING RULES about who can drive licensed minicabs would place the public at risk, councils are warning.

Legislation going through Parliament will make it “impossible” for councils to ensure cab drivers have been through the proper checks, according to the Local Government Association (LGA).

The LGA is also warning that dangerous minicab drivers could more easily challenge reviews of their licences following traffic offences. This is because they could more easily claim another driver was responsible.

The concerns centre on clauses in the Deregulation Bill which the association says would permit anyone to drive a licensed vehicle.

The LGA’s licensing spokesman, Tony Page, said: “Councils fought hard for the reinstatement of enhanced criminal records checks for taxi and private hire drivers and these irresponsible plans threaten to undermine that progress and remove this vital protection for passengers.”

The Yorkshire Post revealed in April last year that taxi drivers with criminal records for gun possession, violence and drugs offences were working in the region. Applicants with convictions for motoring offences including drink and dangerous driving have also been granted licences, figures released following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request showed.

Mr Page added: “The consequences for someone entering a vehicle marked for hire where the driver has not been properly licensed and vetted by the council can be severe. We should not increase the chances of that happening.”

A Department for Transport spokesman said: “The deregulation bill will not put taxi passengers at risk, and drivers will still have their backgrounds routinely checked.

“These measures are tried and tested in London and have made life easier for passengers as well as drivers and their families.”

source: http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/mai ... -1-6597441

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

Why did this mob not say anything from 1976 until 1996?

Why did this mob not oppose the London PH Act which allows the 'end of the world' scenario they outline?

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IDFIMH

so the 20 assaults per week in London alone is tried and tested then ffs

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

I'm not convinced the rules that apply in London, but don't currently elsewhere, have much if any affect on those numbers.

Many of those attacks are by licensed drivers in licensed cars, and unlicensed drivers in unlicensed cars.

The question I ask is how bad was it outside of London pre 1996, and I'm not convinced it was a big problem.

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IDFIMH

Will the unlicensed drivers be able to smoke in the vehicle when its off duty? how will it be enforced against people who aint licensed? (one must suspect the licensee will be made responsible - and the burden of proof will be upon them to prove they weren't smoking).

In some areas PH can use bus lanes - will unlicensed drivers be able to use these bus lanes? Indeed, in some areas licensed vehicles can turn right where non licensed vehicles cannot - will unlicensed drivers be able to do so.

Of course the biggest thing is the fact the government has deceived many people by saying it frees up families - the fact of the matter is anyone will be able to drive licensed PHV's.

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

I would imagine that the same rules would apply to phvs as does to any place of work and that is nobody can smoke whether it's their place of work or not

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

That's the point - you don't know and neither do I - are the unlicensed drivers going to be made responsible or aware of licensing regulations? If I give a motorist a two fingered salute there is a chance they'll call my LA quoting my plate number - the complaint could lead to a warning or appearance - I appreciate that in order to clear my name I have to prove I wasn't driving the vehicle at the time, but the whole thing seems like such an ar*e about t*t way of doing things.

If a licensing officer walks up to a PH and the driver isn't licensed - what power does the officer have? Indeed, does the unlicensed driver know about licensing conditions etc.

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

The smoking thing is a red herring captain. A private hire vehicle is a place of work and as such smoking is not permitted. That is the law and nothing to do with licensing regulations. A shop is still a place of work even when it is closed and you can't smoke there either. A private hire vehicle is no different.

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Grandad,
To support my charity text MAYORWALK to 70085 to donate £5

Is it a place of work even with an unlicensed driver?

If I smoke in a shop isn't it the shopkeeper that fines me, not the local authority?

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

A shop keeper can't fine you. You know very well that it is the local authority that does the prosecution and that it is the courts that issue fines. A private hire vehicle is always a private hire vehicle so it is always a place of work regardless of who is entitled to drive it.

_________________
Grandad,
To support my charity text MAYORWALK to 70085 to donate £5