Taxi Driver Online

As is usual at this time of year, a number of local military bases are having Christmas functions to which some civilians are invited.

There is a tendency for a 'rank' of mixed HC and PHV to form inside the base with a girl with a mobile phone marshalling customers who are queueing for her company's vehicles.

1. Is that touting?

2. Is an operator's licence required for the base? Would separate messes require different licences, given their, technically, different addresses?

3. Are her activities and those of the company and PHV vehicles legal?

4. What questions should we ask of the LA to get assurances that the activities are legal?


I would appreciate a full dicussion on this in order that I can formulate a definitive legal analysis for my colleagues.

Many thanks.

I can see some weed of a LA trying to force his way past about 10 armed redcaps ...... pmsl

1. Yes, it is definately touting.

2. MoD property is not "in" the Local Authorities jurisdiction even if it is within the geographical area that is covered. I can't see the Minister of State for Defence granting any licences. (this is why in Plymouth and Portsmouth if an HC drops within the Dockyards, it is not allowed to pick up a hail) Bookings can be accepted by HC or PH who may then enter the MoD property to collect passengers.

3. In my own opinion, no, but the Commanding Officer can in effect make whatever rules he or she deems as suitable.

4. You can ask your LA, but I'd be very surprised if they can definitively answer. I would suggest an approach to the Commanding Officer of the Establishment would bear more fruit.

_________________
Chris The Fish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdlyi5mc ... re=related

So, following on Chris' reply and concentrating on PHV, can they be licensed by a military commander to operate outside their legally licensed area?

What would prevent a fleet of private individuals operating in the same way?

the base could pre-book 10 cars, allocated by the base on loading....

No, she is marshalling and ensuring the right people get into the right 'booked' vehicles.

_________________
IDFIMH

If the girl is ringing the office, and a log is kept of the jobs at the operating base, then an operator's license is required, but at the operating base, not the army base.

_________________
IDFIMH

IMO yes.

_________________
IDFIMH

Questions 1 to 3 would be a start.

_________________
IDFIMH

They are not operating outside of their area, just sitting outside of it.

Bit confusing, but if the girl is ringing the licensing base to book the cars, and that operating base is fully licensed, then no laws are being broken.

All that said, you have five working days to write all this down and submit it to the Transport Select Committee, who, if we are lucky, will start the ball rolling to get this outlawed.

_________________
IDFIMH

hands up who wants to be known as the guy who got the barracks taxi service kicked into touch


ouch, oohh, ouch, dont hurt me, ouch


can you imagine parking or standing outside a barracks watching through binoculars? why not go the whole-hog, rucksack, turban and tan....

http://taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4662&highlight=scampion

CC

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