Taxi Driver Online

Stretch limos set for safety rules

HAVANT council is set to act amid fears people are being put at risk by firms cashing in on the craze to hire out stretch limos. The super-sized cars are becoming more popular for occasions such as hen and stag nights, and there are six companies in the Havant borough operating the flashy vehicles.

But council chiefs suspect some firms are operating without licences allowing them to hire out vehicles, and the borough is now set to bring in tougher safety regulations. Havant Borough Council bosses are to decide whether to bring in a special licence aimed at regulating stretch limos in the same way as taxis.

The giant cars would have to be tested every six months to be lawfully allowed to pick up passengers. Any rogue operators could be fined. A recent stretch limo survey in Southampton showed that 14 out of the 17 stopped were operating without a licence either from a local authority or the national Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (Vosa).

Geoff Hallett, borough licensing officer, thinks the situation in Havant could be similar, and wants a new licensing scheme. He said: 'It is very likely that the majority are operating unlawfully and can only become legitimate if they are licensed as private-hire vehicles.'

The council does not give licences to vehicles more than three years old on initial application, or are left-hand drive – which rules out most stretch limos. Tomorrow councillors will decide whether the rules should be changed. Mr Hallett said that at the moment some cars could be breaching safety rules, with some 'stretched' illegally so they were too long or too heavy. Others used inadequate tyres for the weight of the car.

Steve Middleton, director of Lawnswood Limousines, which is licensed with the Vosa, welcomed the plan. 'There are a couple I know of that are run without licences and flouting the rules. I'm all for regulating the industry,' he said. Gosport Borough Council and Portsmouth City Council already issue licences for stretch limousines.

PROPOSED REQUIREMENTS
Conditions that a limo will need to meet to be given a licence:
# Evidence that it was modified by a qualified converter
# The vehicle must not have been lengthened by more than 120in or weigh more than 7,100lb
# Tyres must be designed and manufactured for that class of vehicle and be capable of supporting the maximum loaded weight for each axle when at maximum speed
# A Single Vehicle Approval certificate or equivalent for that vehicle must be submitted
# Seat belts complying with current legislation must be fitted for each passenger seat
# Passengers cannot travel in the front seat
# Vehicles licensed under these additional conditions must be submitted every six months for a check at the council's approved centre.

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IDFIMH

Thats the way to do it.....
As I said before these 8 seat 120 limos are getting their licenses sorted out.
But the big self drive hire mob still slip through the net .
over weight , over rated & over here.

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Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!

But certainly not over-regulated.

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

Interesting that this council wants the SVA certificate to be produced. Anyone who has had an SVA certificate will know that it is retained by the DVLA when the vehicle is registered.

Grandad

Surely you must get a receipt or 'something or nothing'.

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IDFIMH

You get the certificate that is retained. You can ask for a photo copy but will the council accept a photo copy. they won't accept a photo copy of other documents.
However if the vehicle has been issued with an SVA, the registration document will have a type approval number at section "K"

Grandad

There are 3 in the Scottish borders and they have to have a PH licence, and all drivers require a PH badge and crb check

and that is what sould happen to all of them .. no PH they sould be off the road ..no exception..

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Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!

because they might take work off hackney???????

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you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.

Anyone Hackney PH limo ..16 SEATlimo..if your not by the book bye bye.
WHY should the morjority do it right just to let a lot of wide boys in to work unlicensed... and ignore the safty issues.

Here he goes again

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Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!

happy little kermit who doesnt mind unlicensed people then weather its taxi , PH or limos & we know your 16 seat thing is not regulated in any way.
You
keep slipping & sliding and one day you will fall...
You should change your name..to "Back door Burtie" it would be more apt

I've said it before but here goes again! I would gladly plate up my Limo and have been trying to do so for years but come across the same problems everytime:-

1. The car has a bulk head and fold down seats (middle row) therefore it is Hackney spec not PH
2. The car is over 9 years old and is not acceptable as a Hack or PH
3. I would argue the "special occasssions" clause for a PH plate but unfortunately my car is Hack spec and therefore can't be a PH

Head ..... brick wall ...... head ....... brick wall ...... head..... brick wall ..

I will say that my car was built to carry six pax in the rear behind the bulkhead and I in the front next to the driver; however I will only take bookings on 7 day contract and will NEVER accept a booking for more than 6 pax. I appreciate that my Rosedale isn't in the same class as some of the Limo's but nevertheless it still has its problems re plating - although the H&R Insurance is still over £1k a year! I only use mine as a cover for the "want something a bit better than a standard Taxi but don't want to pay extortionate prices" and I don't advertise, in the same way that a lot of cabbies have access to a Merc or Jag for "special occassions".

Recently whilst on a "prom" jaunt (one of my kids so totally legit - private car!) I counted 19 kids get out of a stretch Hummer and yes I did call the authorities.

Most of us flaunted the old more than 8 seats / less than 8 seats (ie 8 seaters don't exist rules), myself included but I personally do not think that any car should be allowed to carry more than 8 persons regardless of what it is and where / how it was built.

(Who moved my pram?)