Taxi Driver Online

Party limo drugs shock

Police have vowed to step up checks on stretch limousines after a startling number were found to contain traces of heroin, cocaine and MDMA. Figures released by Sussex Police yesterday revealed 95 per cent of the luxury vehicles randomly checked in Brighton on Friday night contained traces of the drugs.

Eleven limos were stopped and searched in Madeira Drive on the seafront.
continued... The vast majority were found to have traces of the drugs. Limousines in Brighton and Hove are not regulated and do not need a permit.

Police issued two cautions to passengers for possession of cannabis. The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) also prohibited six limos from being driven because of defective tyres and lights. Two of the vehicles were found carrying more passengers than the eight permitted. Warnings were issued to all the drivers and two are subject to further investigation.

Brighton Pavilion MP David Lepper said: "It is a startlingly high number and very worrying, especially when the police force are doing so much to reduce drug crime in the city."

Swabs were taken from the limos, which are popular with stag and hen parties, and analysed using an Ion Track machine during the half-hour assessments. The cars were also checked for roadworthiness and passenger overloading.

Insp Phil Nicholas, of Brighton and Hove Road Policing Department, said: "I am very disappointed by the results." The force said yesterday it would increase limousine spot checks in an attempt to curb the problem.

Sussex Police has run several successful operations targeting drug crimes and burglary rates in Brighton and Hove, considered an indicator for the level of drug abuse, had dropped dramatically over the past year.

Mr Lepper said he was concerned by the ever-increasing number of limousines carrying party-goers around Brighton. He said the vehicles were not subject to strict enough regulations and has written to the transport secretary Douglas Alexander.

There are more than 100 companies offering limousine services in Sussex. Limo driver Les Nye, who did not have his car checked on Friday, said he has had problems with passengers taking drugs.

Mr Nye, who runs LS Limousines in Lancing, said: "I went to clean the car one morning and there was white powder all over the place. A stag party had got drunk and decided they wanted to end their night with something else. "Since then I've installed a camera in the back so I can keep an eye on what's happening. I won't have any of that."

Mr Nye said he now refuses to raise the limo's dividing board until the camera is on and makes clear to passengers that drugs will not be tolerated. He does not take bookings from stag parties.

He said: "It's a good thing the police are making these checks. There are a lot more companies out there now and more cowboys among them."

Tony Banks, of Brighton-based 1st Choice Limos, which also did not have any of its vehicles checked, said it was difficult for drivers to always keep an eye on what passengers were doing and drive safely.

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IDFIMH

Do not need one, or can't be f***ed to get one?

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IDFIMH

I don't know how this person draws the conclusion that permits are not needed? It just proves how little they know about regulations governing fare paying passengers.

If the Government thought that drivers and vehicles which carried fare paying passengers could ever be self regulating then they wouldn't have introduced legislation which brought them under government control.

An unlicensed limousine carrying passengers, is no different than any other unlicensed vehicle carrying passengers, its about time police and licensing officers got their head out of the sand and applied the law.

Or maybe we should all follow the limo line and put two fingers up to licensing authorities and say "whats good for the Goose is good for the Gander".

Regards

JD

Police swoop on stretch limo taking children out for the day


Police staging a crackdown on dangerous limos held up a party of children by the roadside for more than half an hour. Shanika Bonsu was on her way with pals to her sixth birthday party in a pink stretch Lincoln when up to 20 police and safety inspectors swooped.

The birthday girl had to wait first in the car and then in the cold at the side of the road while checks were carried out, spoiling an afternoon of fun. Mum Kerry, who planned the event, said: "They were absolutely terrified. There were so many police they really thought something bad was going to happen. "Shanika is a shy girl and this has made her very nervous."

The Lincoln Town Car was pulled over in Madeira Drive, Brighton, at 6pm on Friday. It is the first to be targeted in a joint operation by Sussex Police, Brighton and Hove City Council and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) to crack down on limousines breaking safety regulations.

Driver Martin Mylton- Thorley, of luxury car firm Limozines 2000, said he was told by VOSA inspectors his tyres were unsuitable and he would have to take the car off the road immediately. But the order was revoked within 30 minutes after he returned to his company's London Road, Brighton, offices and collected documents proving the tyres were of a higher standard than required.

Mr Mylton-Thorley said: "They ruined what was supposed to be a very special treat for that girl. They didn't seem to have any consideration for the passengers. "It is fair enough that they want to check limousines but there is a right time and place.

"I have a very distinctive car and it was very public. A lot of people were walking past thinking there was something bad about my car or my company. "Why can't they do these checks at our yard or at least somewhere discrete?"

When the police finally allowed the limo to take to the road again Mr Mylton-Thorley drove the six girls straight back to Shanika's home in Whitehawk, Brighton. Mrs Bonsu said: "When they got back they were devastated.

That ride was supposed to be a treat. It cost £150 and it has been spoiled by the police. I'm really annoyed about it." Mr Mylton-Thorley has refunded the birthday group's fee for the trip. Yesterday, he was preparing to make an official complaint to the police. He said he had sought legal advice about seeking compensation.

He claims police officers requested him to perform an illegal U-turn in Marine Parade when they pulled him over. He refused, telling them it would be dangerous, and insisted on driving to Dukes Mound, where he could turn safely.

The Argus reported yesterday how police found traces of drugs in ten of the 11 limousines pulled over on Friday. Mr Mylton-Thorley said his car was not among them.

He said: "I take a lot of care to ensure no one brings drugs on board. It's made very clear in our booking forms that it won't be tolerated. My divider board is permanently fixed down and if I caught anyone taking drugs, I'd drive straight to a police station and kick them out."

Sussex Police said the importance of the operation had been proved by its success rate. Faults were found with all of the cars checked, a spokesman said.

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IDFIMH

What you mean something like being driven by an un-checked un-licensed driver, driving an un-checked un-licensed vehicle?

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IDFIMH