Taxi Driver Online

O/k so who do you work for O.f.T OR TAX....mrT

IS IT...IF YOU SAY SO...IT'S YOUR FORUM........LOVE MR T...

The rank is in full public view, in a public area, in the car park of the complex, right next to the “plaza” area. The complex may itself be private land – but the public are all over it, and have access to all areas – if that makes sense, I confess that I am no good at legalese. There is no doubt in my mind that they are touting illegally in a public area.

In reply to TDO, I guess that their logic is why should they plate their vehicles in our area, in their eyes it is “buy one get one free in effect” – effectively one plate gives you access to both areas. Ironically we would be hung if we even thought about touting in their (well policed) district.

In our area all Hackneys have to be “London style” cabs, and all PH vehicles have to be unmarked, apart from their plate on the rear of the vehicle. Hackneys are in the minority locally anyway.

All of the illegal cabs are saloon cars, registered Hackneys and are clearly marked with roof signs etc. So the public just see the sign “TAXI” and pre-booked customers (with local PH companies) make a bee-line for them, more often than not walking past the PH car that is patiently waiting for them!. Not very fair is it.

Additionally, 187ums, we have taken numbers, photos etc, and presented them to the council, even the local rag had a front page picture of a couple clearly touting – still nothing happens????

Frustrating or what?

I think the answer is in your subsequent point about your area requiring black cabs while the other area just specifies saloons - if you were saloon as well then there would be less of a deterrent to plating in your area.

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Taxi Driver Online
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Obviously the local PH saloon cars would love to be registered as Hackneys (they were once) – level playing field? – But there is no way that will ever happen.

Incidentally the local authority did allow the Hackneys to increase their fares to 1.5x, after 23:00, in an effort to keep more out late at night, but the public saw this (it was publicised heavily) and therefore they avoid the black cabs like the plague were possible.

Crazy ol’ world innit?

Dusty?

I cannot believe the Council and Police condone it?

I could understand if they agreed action was needed, then in their usual fashion done nothing about it, but to say its 'ok'? What a farce.

Please tell us which area you are refering to, this forum is anonymous (mostly) so your i.d is safe.

If only to let Ollie know so he can join the ranks of touts operating there.

So I suppose the visiting saloons are regarded as a lot cheaper then?

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Taxi Driver Online
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If the public are drawn to the rank from the 'public place' then it is an illegal rank as per Eastbourne.

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IDFIMH

The area is Chichester District Council, and I am talking about Chichester town itself, which as you not know is a medium sized market town on the south coast. The "rouge" cars are plated Arun District Council, and are mainly from Bognor Regis firms.

If, as has been suggested, they were just coming to town with a fare and then trying to return with a punter, we could live with it, but the reality is that night after night it is the same core of drivers ranked up at the Chichester Gate complex, and the numbers increase dramatically on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays when the single local club is open, and Thursdays when another is open in Bognor Regis.

Additionally at any large function, (eg Goodwood Races, local music festivals etc.) there are always loads ranked up in full view, on public roads, picking up hails etc etc.

I know this sounds unbelieveable - but I swear this is true.

Any other CDC drivers out ther wish to add their comments???

Do you not have some sort of working party/trade forum where all members of the trade come together to discuss issues?

If you do it would be interesting to find out why your council ignores the laws of the land. Surely they must realise that their jobs are in jeopardy if all the PH go to Arun and plate up as a HC.

If you don't then why not suggest one to the council leader. Normally you would have licensing officers, union folk, PH firms, the police and maybe the licensing councillor.

Meet 3 or 4 times a year and sort out all that needs sorting. And if it's the licensing officer that needs sorting, then put that at the top of the first agenda.

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IDFIMH

In reply to TDO - the fact is that these cabs are in fact blatently overcharging as well, as they do all of this off the meter.

The fact is that the local, legal pre-booked, PH cars are unmarked and overlooked, in favour of the illegal marked cars, not surprisingly I suppose.

The poor (in all senses!) local hackneys are regarded as overpriced and overlooked!!!

Complaints by punters to Chichester District are told that it is out of their juristiction (the cars not registered there), and if they complain to Bognor Regis they are told it is not theirs either as it happened outside their area!!

If t wasn't hurting our incomes so much I would be laughing my c**k off at the farcical nature of it all - but seriously we need thoses ideas guys - what to do??

That is utter rubbish.

Your licensing officer is responsible for the good folk of your manor. If they are being put at risk, or being overcharged, then it's him and him alone that needs to sort it.

But the answer to this problem isn't exactly rocket science; all he needs to do is to arrange a joint enforcement exercise with the Arun licensing officer.

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IDFIMH

Sussex – in your own learned fashion – you have probably hit the nail on the head.

The local (relatively small) Hackney Association has made a lot of noise, but got nowhere apart from the fare increase, which is self harming anyway, I think.

The larger number of local PH drivers work for companies, are not organised at all, and are frightened of “making waves”.

Many firms owners talk of “bringing the name of the firm into disrepute”, always have their own interests at heart (the driver still pay shares/rent whatever), and do not want to offend the great all powerful council.

Crazy I know, as we drivers just want justice.

The council – intentionally or not – have done a damn good job of “divide and rule”.

Well it's difficult to know how to proceed.

Usually a splash in the local press would have provided a sufficient wake up call, but clearly not in this case.

Has there been any action at all, or has it just been the odd token gesture?

Would I be right in saying that you need a brand new TX for a taxi plate in your manor?

Maybe they just realise that they've set the bar too high, and the lack of taxis at peak times means that they effectively turn a blind eye to what's going on. To reverse the new TX policy would clearly risk a loss of face as well.

There may well be more to this than meets the eye, but it's a common problem when no one in the trade feels able to take the regulator on.

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Taxi Driver Online
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