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 Post subject: taxi top sign
PostPosted: Fri May 17, 2019 9:47 am 
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There is a dispute going on around here at the moment regarding the taxi top sign.
Some drivers are removing the top sign when they are not working.
is this allowed?
Is there any legislation that says yes or no, and if so where do I find it?
I would have thought that because once a vehicle is licensed as a hackney it is always a hackney until it is de registered then all the rules that govern it as a taxi, which includes the top sign, must be adhered to so it must stay on.
Any advice appreciated.

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 Post subject: Re: taxi top sign
PostPosted: Fri May 17, 2019 10:43 am 
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Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2016 7:56 pm
Posts: 2466
grandad wrote:
There is a dispute going on around here at the moment regarding the taxi top sign.
Some drivers are removing the top sign when they are not working.
is this allowed?
Is there any legislation that says yes or no, and if so where do I find it?
I would have thought that because once a vehicle is licensed as a hackney it is always a hackney until it is de registered then all the rules that govern it as a taxi, which includes the top sign, must be adhered to so it must stay on.
Any advice appreciated.



Agree with you,once a TAXI always a TAXI until it is unlicensed,all rules apply,even when being used for S,D& Pleasure.


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 Post subject: Re: taxi top sign
PostPosted: Fri May 17, 2019 9:25 pm 
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Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2003 7:30 pm
Posts: 53921
Location: 1066 Country
grandad wrote:
There is a dispute going on around here at the moment regarding the taxi top sign.
Some drivers are removing the top sign when they are not working.
is this allowed?
Is there any legislation that says yes or no, and if so where do I find it?
I would have thought that because once a vehicle is licensed as a hackney it is always a hackney until it is de registered then all the rules that govern it as a taxi, which includes the top sign, must be adhered to so it must stay on.
Any advice appreciated.

We sort of go back to the discussion we had re legal seats viewtopic.php?f=5&t=33916

Basically Yates v Gates is the leading authority that a taxi is always a taxi.

And a taxi license's bylaws/conditions aren't a pick and mix. They have to be adhered to for the duration of the license.

Whether the driver is working is neither here nor there.

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 Post subject: Re: taxi top sign
PostPosted: Tue May 21, 2019 8:09 am 
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Joined: Wed May 16, 2012 6:33 am
Posts: 13815
Certainly not uncommon here over the years for drivers to remove roofsigns for longer distance and/or chauffeur-style work, although I'm not entirely sure what the official position is on this.

One particular driver has also tried to dispense with a roofsign even on the ranks on and off for perhaps fifteen years, but he now finally seems to have some sort of permanent sign that is reasonably easy to see (his last effort as a permanent sign was a tiny little thing that wasn't illuminated and even during the day was impossible to see from many angles because of the height of the vehicle and also because the sign was sort of lost among the roofrails.)

Personally it doesn't bother me in the slightest if drivers don't have a roofsign, as long as they aren't ranking up [-X but as others have said, in terms of the legalities it's essentially the same as the questions about seating and CCTV etc.

But what does annoy me is the drivers who don't have illuminated roofsigns, and quite a lot here have signs so poorly lit that in town you have to be quite close to them to work out whether in fact they are illuminated :evil:


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 Post subject: Re: taxi top sign
PostPosted: Tue May 21, 2019 9:57 am 
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Joined: Fri Feb 04, 2005 8:23 pm
Posts: 4904
Location: Lincoln
Why does it matter to anyone what other drivers do in their own time?

Is it affecting your business because someone removes their top light to go to Tesco?

Asking for a friend.

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 Post subject: Re: taxi top sign
PostPosted: Tue May 21, 2019 7:33 pm 
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Location: 1066 Country
Quote:
Why does it matter to anyone what other drivers do in their own time?

It is the law, and we are all meant to be 'fit and proper' folks.

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 Post subject: Re: taxi top sign
PostPosted: Wed May 22, 2019 5:27 pm 
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Location: Twixt Heaven and Hell, but nearest Hell
Check your regs..............as always


1960?

http://www.melton.gov.uk/downloads/file ... ye_lawspdf

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 Post subject: Re: taxi top sign
PostPosted: Wed May 22, 2019 6:58 pm 
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Posts: 2466
wannabeeahack wrote:
Check your regs..............as always


1960?

http://www.melton.gov.uk/downloads/file ... ye_lawspdf



Latest specification for Melton,TAXI TOP SIGN MUST BE ON VEHICLE.


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 Post subject: Re: taxi top sign
PostPosted: Wed May 22, 2019 7:09 pm 
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heathcote wrote:
wannabeeahack wrote:
Check your regs..............as always


1960?

http://www.melton.gov.uk/downloads/file ... ye_lawspdf



Latest specification for Melton,TAXI TOP SIGN MUST BE ON VEHICLE.

The argument rumbles on. It has been stated that nowhere in the policy or anything else does it say that you can't take the topsign off when the vehicle is not working. To me that is like saying that the plate can be taken off when the vehicle is not working.

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 Post subject: Re: taxi top sign
PostPosted: Wed May 22, 2019 7:54 pm 
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Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2008 4:06 pm
Posts: 24116
Location: Twixt Heaven and Hell, but nearest Hell
grandad wrote:
heathcote wrote:
wannabeeahack wrote:
Check your regs..............as always


1960?

http://www.melton.gov.uk/downloads/file ... ye_lawspdf



Latest specification for Melton,TAXI TOP SIGN MUST BE ON VEHICLE.

The argument rumbles on. It has been stated that nowhere in the policy or anything else does it say that you can't take the topsign off when the vehicle is not working. To me that is like saying that the plate can be taken off when the vehicle is not working.



so what would say "TAXI SIGN MUST BE ON VEHICLE" means?

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 Post subject: Re: taxi top sign
PostPosted: Wed May 22, 2019 9:46 pm 
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Location: 1066 Country
Quote:
The argument rumbles on. It has been stated that nowhere in the policy or anything else does it say that you can't take the topsign off when the vehicle is not working. To me that is like saying that the plate can be taken off when the vehicle is not working.

I also doubt it says that drivers can have a sh** on the back seat, but that doesn't mean you can.

If the bylaws/conditions of license say the taxi must have a roof light on, that that applies all the time the vehicle is licensed.

The issue of working/not working is irrelevant.

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 Post subject: Re: taxi top sign
PostPosted: Thu May 23, 2019 8:13 am 
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The old adage of "once a taxi, always a taxi" until withdrawn from service as a taxi.


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 Post subject: Re: taxi top sign
PostPosted: Fri May 31, 2019 1:23 pm 
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Joined: Sat Apr 01, 2006 11:47 pm
Posts: 19110
Location: Stamford Britains prettiest town till SKDC ruined it
WHILST WORKING

we have a driver round here who Never has his top sign on the vehicle but he only does airport transfers and a few odds and ends and never goes near the rank

There are times when it is necessary to remove the top sign such as due to height restrictions in car parks

round here many drivers have their plates fitted using velcro and remove them when off duty as a number of vehicles have had their plates stolen (one of my drivers had his plate taken twice in 6 months)

where is the issue UNLESS they turn up at the rank and commence working without re-attaching the top sign and plate

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 Post subject: Re: taxi top sign
PostPosted: Fri May 31, 2019 7:32 pm 
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Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:07 am
Posts: 2596
Location: Hampshire (HC)
You may also find a clause in the insurance that will only provide cover whilst the vehicle complies with licensing conditions of the LA. Removing the top sign could mean that those conditions are breached therefore, potentially, no insurance.


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