Taxi Driver Online

Ok sorry might be being a bit thick.
Can't find it.

Help!!! Please JD


Regards

Juls

This is the case.

http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Adm ... /2500.html

And this is one of the discussions we have had on here.

http://taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1198

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IDFIMH

Thanks Sussex

lol thanx sussex you saved me a task.

Regards

JD

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Can't sleep, still in another time zone.

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IDFIMH

Cabbies take 200-mile trip to evade fee


SAVING MONEY: Michael Dunn with one of the taxis that has been registered in Berwick, Northumberland

TAXI drivers are escaping hefty licensing fees in Darlington by making a 200-mile round-trip to Berwick.

Desperate cabbies are clocking up the miles to avoid what they describe as extortionate costs imposed by their council.

In what is becoming a regional trend, taxi drivers from built-up areas are heading to rural boroughs such as Berwick, Tynedale, Derwentside and Eden Valley to license their cars.

The cost to test and license a private hire taxi and driver in Darlington for a 12-month period is £529. In Berwick, it is £258.

As long as the taxi remains for private hire only, the law says the licence is transferable.

David Wilson, of Berwick Borough Council, confirmed the authority had licensed three Darlington taxis last week, and said he expected more.

He said: "Word is spreading. We are processing applications from all over the North and we are expecting an application from mid-Wales."

The Department for Transport said councils can set their own licensing fees, but said they must not make a profit.

Cabbies are baffled as to why licence fees vary so much.

Michael Dunn, a consultant for Station Taxis, in Darlington, who took the three cars to Berwick last week, said: "We did not want to go down this line, but we have been forced into it. It took 14 days for us to just get an appointment with Darlington Borough Council. We rang Berwick council the next day and by the following evening, we were driving back into Darlington with three licensed cars."

By taking its cars to Berwick, Station Taxis will save thousands of pounds.

A Darlington Borough Council spokesman said the Berwick fee was merely administrative, while their fee included an enforcement element, ensuring drivers and vehicles complied with stringent standards.

They include driving and medical tests for drivers, and extensive mechanical tests for taxis.

He said: "If the taxi is one that is registered in Berwick, both vehicle and driver have not been subjected to the same level of testing that is the case in Darlington. It could have a huge impact on public safety.

"We make sure the taxis are complying with first-class standards of public safety. Our fees are in line with most other local authorities...


FFS.

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

I love it when private hire owners vote with their feet lol.

The whole lot of them want to take a trip over to Berwick. lol

Regards

JD

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And I love it, when they have to travel 200 miles because somebody has made a complaint...... and then another complaint.... and then another complaint....

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Never heard of the telephone?

I've never had a complaint in my life and I suppose the same applies to the majority of drivers in these instances. I think your observation is a little pessimistic.

Regards

JD

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had the feeling you would be about. some councils are very funny and expect you to answer in person

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Mind you this licensing officer makes everything you suggest about quality controls ridiculous, what's the use of any council putting them into practice when they can be bypassed by a licensing officer that is only interested in generating licensing fees into his department. it's a total mockery

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

On the contrary, I think it proves that we need new legislation and anything that highlights the failings of current legislation is fine by me. Sooner or later everyone will get frustrated and decide that the only way forward is a complete new act.

I may not be around when it happens but I have a feeling it will happen and in the meantime I'll do everything I can to make sure that the law is the winner and councils can't get away with using section 47 to change statutory legislation like they did in Carlisle and currently in Rochford.

You want to tinker, I want a complete new act. At the moment the only winner is Government apathy, I think its high time pressure was put on Government for real change. However thats something you guys don't want.

Regards

JD

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This licensing officer as you put it is a smart cookie and he probably knows as much if not more about Taxi licensing law than most other LO's. The council he works for has a policy of only charging for administration costs, you can't criticise him for that and you can't criticise his council for licensing vehicles of owners who live outside the licensing area. The reason why is because its perfectly legal. Contrast that with Rochford who has in place an illegal condition?

I wouldn't be so swift to condem the quality controls of Berwick.

Regards

JD

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The cabs go through a thorough test in Berwick, and its the same test that's carried out throughout the country, and all docs are checked and photocopied, even the meters if fitted, are checked as per the tariff sheet that is supplied by the owner, for what ever area they are to work in, so its more than just administration.
It would be good if all taxis and PH went there it would soon wake up some of the overcharging councils