Taxi Driver Online

I'm flaming mad!

THE boss of a fire engine limo firm is suing police and council chiefs for hundreds of thousands of pounds after his business almost collapsed. Crazy Fire Company boss Paul Gibson is claiming compensation of £350,000 from Strathclyde Police and Renfrewshire Council, and says his Braehead-based firm was put off the road for weeks during a licensing probe.

Earlier this year the company, which operates three fire engine limos and an American ambulance for parties, was investigated by police. One driver was stopped and charged for not having a taxi driver's badge and Mr Gibson was charged for not having a private hire licence for a fire engine limo.

Weeks later all the charges were dropped, but Mr Gibson says the damage to his business and reputation was irreparable. Now he is taking a civil action against the police and council and a hearing has been set for early December at Paisley Sheriff Court. The businessman said: "We had to let drivers go and during that time we lost business and our reputation suffered. "For me this is not about the money. I am taking legal action to highlight what we have been put through."

Earlier this year it was announced that limousines across the west of Scotland are to be licensed as police move to regulate the industry. Strathclyde Police wants rules on limousine operators tightened up to protect the public in a booming market.

Scotland's largest police force wrote to every council in its area asking them to include limousines under the current licensing system and force those which carry eight or fewer passengers to be issued with the same licence as private hire car drivers. It already believes limousines are covered by current legislation, but want councils to clarify the rules.

Renfrewshire Council is currently working with other councils and the police to develop a private hire car licensing scheme for novelty/special events vehicles. A council spokesman said: "We have alerted companies who operate these vehicles of our intentions in this regard and we will be writing further to these companies inviting licence applications when the scheme is in place."

The spokesman added the council would defend the compensation case. He said: "We are confident there is no sound legal basis for his claim. "The council has treated Mr Gibson and his business fairly and will vigorously defend the action that has been raised."

A Strathclyde Police spokeswoman said it had not received any notification of any legal action and also confirmed the charges against the company's employees were dropped. She said: "Following inquiries no report was submitted to the procurator-fiscal."

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IDFIMH

So thats the message their sending out?

Buy any clap-trap, life expired vehicle with novelty value, don't worry about a license or plate, and pick up who you want, charging what you want.

Sounds like a Minicab tout.

It's making legislation a total joke isn't it.

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There is Significant Unmet Demand for my Opinion.

LEGISLATION IS A JOKE.

WHAT ABOUT STRATHCLYDE EMPLOYES BASED AT PIT STREET WHO TAKE THEIR KIT OFF IN AN AMBULANCE LIMO.

ANGELA AMBULANCE LIMO

ALL RIGHT FOR LAW TO SHOW THEIR FURRY BITS.

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crazy

Is the Angela ambulance limo different from The Angels Ambulance Limo as mentiomed here

http://www.angelsambulancelimos.com/decide.htm

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Fair Trade, Rational Thinking

And no, before anyone says it I have not had a ride in it

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Fair Trade, Rational Thinking

Can't think of anything better than a second hand ex-NHS Ambulance to go for a night out in.

Nice to see the 'chav's' are slowly but surely taking over.

Its also interesting to see these vehicles, certainly in London, are always driven by the tattooed fuc*wit variety.

Chavs driven by Chavs.

You seem to have a problem with authority all round Mr Crazy.

The Police, The Council, The Government?

It must be hard when the whole world conspires against you.

Perhaps you should uproute and move to Cuba?

I hear Mr Castro likes a ride in a pretend Fire Engine.

yeah does dont it i say ban the lot like we say u now were u are in black cab all the best smudger

the limo [edited by admin] are allways trying to park on the berkley taxi rank but i [edited by admin] them off smudger

the limo [edited by admin] are allways trying to park on the berkley taxi rank but i f*** them off smudger

And how you have failed in your quest to ban them. Even those bikes are going to be approved soon.

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IDFIMH

Oh you are so hard.

I'm not so sure that LPH standards are falling in London, but it's as clear as the chip on your shoulder that black cab standards are.

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IDFIMH

Now that would be a challenge.

To fall from the bottom of the barrell.

A difficult task.

And wheres all my imported emoticons / smillies vanished to?