Taxi Driver Online

This provisional proposal 48 in the consultation questions



I was disappointed to note (unless I've missed it) that there was no reference to combining the ph drivers license with an operators license considering the idea is to deregulate rather than increase legislation

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Would seem a sensible move tbh.......but that may upset those large PH companies

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I might well be missing something having only read through the document the once. As I interpret it it would still be very easy for an independent PH to take bookings made on a land line whilst sat in his car using call divert for what is almost an instant job. I cannot see the wording stipulates the call made to the operators office can't be forwarded on or that it must be answered and taken by someone actually at the address where the ops license is domiciled and then sent to the allocated driver. I'll have another read methinks.

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Nobody told me to use my initiative. To err is human to arr is pirate.

But wouldn't that mean additional cost and bureaucracy for the vast majority of drivers who don't want to act as an operator?

Yeah, and it might upset the spivs

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I'm quite happy with the Scottish way.

One or two man bands, be they taxi or PH, no ops license requirement, more than two taxi or PH on a firm, then ops license is required.

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IDFIMH

It's 4 or more licensed vehicles here for a booking office licence.

Taxis and PHC can take own bookings without a separate licence.

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

I stand corrected, but would be equally happy to see this enacted down here.

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IDFIMH

What additional costs & bureaucracy?

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Unfortunately private hire operators' licences are not something I lie awake at night thinking about, but if say an LA issued a joint driver's/operator's licence to every driver applying, would this entail any more compliance costs or time for either the driver or the LA assuming the driver had no need for an operator's licence under the normal scenario?

How? the form would be broadly the same

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

It's not something I lie awake and think about either but it would involve less form filling and consequently less cost. I don't see why a phd wouldn't want the ability to take their own pre booked work given the opportunity and providing they didn't have to run around the houses so to speak to obtain the license, as is the current method. Why would it cost any more to administer phd than it does taxi drivers?

The normal scenario is enslavement of drivers to operators and that is not good

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Yes, for those currently requiring both drivers' and operators' licences, presumably, but that wasn't my point, which was about drivers who don't want the facility to take bookings directly.

Thus my question was about any unnecesary additional costs/bureaucracy regarding the latter, either for the driver or the licensing authority.



I suspect that if they wanted to then the current impediment isn't really a huge one. Unless you're talking just taking the odd job here and there, which again isn't going to make a huge difference to the driver in any case.



Ah, so you're saying there is lot involved in obtaining a current PH operators' licence?

Thus even if this was streamlined slightly and some sort of dual licence available then wouldn't it entail a lot of additional running round the houses for drivers who don't want the option?



So you're now alluding to getting rid of the PH operator licensing requirement altogether or extending it to taxi drivers, or what?



Well if obtaining a current operator's licences is enslaving them then I can't really see streamlining the licensing process changing this much.

So you're saying there's no additional cost or bureaucracy entailed either for the individual or the LA, other than obviously another for an a fee?

I'd say its exactly the same as issuing a dual license that many LA's probably illegally do now anyway.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin