Taxi Driver Online

Call to plug loophole over 'stretch limos'

A move to update traffic law to take into account the increasing number of 'stretch' limousines on the roads will be made in the House of Lords tomorrow.

The number of American-imported cars has increased from 3,000 in 2003 to 11,000 today, but they are governed by legislation that is 29 years old, said Bill Bowling, legal officer at the National Limousine Association.

He said the law was unsure whether to treat the vehicles as a taxi, minicab or small bus. In some cases they are treated as none of those, with the limousine company agreeing a written contract with whoever hired the vehicle.

Around half the local authorities in Britain have no system for licensing stretch limousines, which means they are operating unchecked. Police rarely stop overcrowded limousines because, according to Mr Bowling, they are unsure of how the law stands.

An amendment to the Road Safety Bill creating a separate licence category for limousines, tabled by Lord Bradshaw, the Liberal Democrat transport spokesman in the Upper House, will be considered by peers tomorrow.

_________________
IDFIMH

So the limo law is unchecked, some up here have registered them as Ph, don't know what the benefit is but I would imagine there must have been some benefit or why would they do it?

_________________
All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Not only is it unchecked, it's not existant.

As the piece says many councils take a 'head in the sand' approach to licensing these things. Some are quite good and will license both driver and vehicle, but many are waiting for others to do something about it.

Hopefully the Liberal bloke's amendment might help. One can only hope and .

_________________
IDFIMH

It's seems that Birmingham have decided enough is enough with these things.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/avdb/news_w ... 6x9_bb.asx

And the report before councillors was quite interesting.

http://80.86.36.120/vault/XDDocStore_3/ ... hicles.pdf

_________________
IDFIMH

I liked the bloke who said: "They're usually very second hand, very cheap and tatty - just like the girls inside."

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

Why no I.D. plate ?

How will the public know if the vehicle is Council approved ?

Regards

I couldn't agree more.

Which is why it's so surprising the PCO will not (yet) allow proper signage on London's LPH.

Ollie

_________________
Happy to be legit.

You told us more than a month ago the decision was imminent, 'next week' I recall?

I think I said an announcement was due soon.

And low and behold in TfL's report yesterday they said;

• Review signage and advertising regulations on private hire vehicles and implement agreed changes.

All within the next few years.

Ollie

_________________
Happy to be legit.

Yes, i'll be retired by then, so good luck, i'll be really pleased for you.

Yes, I think some LAs allow stretches and chauffer services to opt out of displaying plates.

Something to do with the appearance of the car - I mean, stick a plate on a stretch limo, and it might improve it

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

It's high time the stretch limousines were licensed.

There are some great companies out there operating new, quality vehicles. Similarly though, there are just as many out there operating 'limos' that are unsightly and almost certainly unsafe.

Just the other day, I saw an old Lincoln, probably about a K / L reg. Painted bright pink, rust around the arches, the Irish plates to cover the age. It looked like a deathtrap.

And people will get in these cars. That's what is frightening. But what worries me more, is that we don't know who is operating / driving these cars. They have not been badged / CRB checked.

So there we have it - unlicensed / unsafe cars as well as unlicensed / unsafe drivers.

They need to be badged and plated. In my opinion - a small plate underneath the reg. plate would be ideal.

Remember though, there are many legitimate limo firms out there who would be prepared to present their drivers and vehicles for inspection and who would have no trouble in obtaining the relevant licenses.