Taxi Driver Online

More potentially tedious enquiries I'm afraid folks...

Naturally I can, and will, ask the licensing office direct. But until I'm licensed I really don't to annoy them, as I fear this might, so:

In these parts it's possible to be a single person / sole trader operator and driver. All well and good. It's possible to be Hackney too, and work for an operator, but that's another story.

When trains from London arrive at the city station there's often a huge queue for City licensed 'green (black) hackney cabs'. There can be up to thirty of them in a huge rank outside the station and (even) this isn't enough at peak periods.
Across from the taxi pull in, there's a drop-off 20 min car park and a seperate drop-off / pick-up zone. If a private hire vehicle, with door signs, pulled in to the area, the telephone number would be visable to those in the queue for the hackney carriages.
I assumed it was 'fine', well, 'within the rules' to sit there for a minute, and upon catching the eye of anyone in the queue, gesture to the door sign (telephone number) encouraging them to book, take the booking, then just wave them over.
I put this to someone and their words were "It gets better..." I was then told, for a booking/fare to be legitimate, the only stipulation (apart from the numerics) is that the booking must be made through the operator. And in this scenario, someone simply walking over to the vehicle and asking is sufficient, as the driver is also the operator.

In summary: the operator/driver pulls in (not in a rank, naturally)...a prospective client sees the vehicle, walks over to enquire if it's free. The driver dons their operators cap, asks if the prospective client would like to book the vehicle, the client says 'yes', the operator says 'your car should be there immediately'... The driver confirms the booking reference and the client gets in.

I'm not intending to do this. I certainly don't wish to step on anyones toes - the train station is definitely out of bounds.
However, what about public events? An operator can take bookings from anywhere in the country, (right?) so in theory an operator/driver could drive to the O2 or Edinburgh Castle or anywhere, complete with door signs, and when approached 'simply' take a booking and presto!

Am I being naive here? Or is this technically, if not necessarily morally, correct?

I guess (if so) it's not a huge problem as there aren't many operator/driver sole trader set-ups anyway.


Thanks in anticipation.

If you're going there with the intent to attract a potential passenger and making yourself available for hire, then that's touting. It would be obvious to all what your up to.

Play the game, if you want to be a Taxi then get a Taxi plate and a licensed Hackney Carriage.

Yes, very. The booking has to be made through the operating centre, which will probably be your home address. your car can't be the operating centre.

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Grandad,

turn up at the O2, near the taxi rank and try that stunt.........and best of luck to you

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Grandad,

you will not (as a PH op in a HC website) resolve this question.

it wouldnt be illegal to pass a customer your card (or even your phone!) to ring base to make a booking, you cannot take a flag down, but you have the same problem with this that i do.

when im out my landline diverts to my mobile, and yes, i WILL take a booking, my home may be my OPERATING centre, and my OPS licence says what phone numbers can be used, but nowhere can i see anything about not taking a booking via a divert, indeed, i could argue that with todays letter (ref cherry picking) i cannot refuse a booking...

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1aXN7oM_dcc

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

typical bloody private hire attitude. on our rank we have p.h's cut through a bus/taxi lane to come to our rank area to pick people up from the bus stop in effect breaking the law to nick our work. how laughed the other night when the old bill were nicking em then the next day one of em had the gall to complain to me "we aint allowed through the bus lane anymore" i said you aint never been allowed stop yer whining but im a taxi says he i laughed at him and said dont be stupid mate

Your letter refers to rank and street pick ups, not ph work.

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

read it again..."Officers will make test purchases from hackney AND PRIVATE HIRE vehicles."

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

john, i think you will find it isnt YOUR rank, but belongs to the council?

i can show you one rank on private property where LO's and police have no jurisdiction...
in fact, 2 taxi firms (with rank side offices) park their own PH minibuses on the wide path out side, in clear view of the public - c/w signs....

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Perhaps you should pay more attention to the reason why a punter would ring a PH instead of just walking a couple of yards to your rank.
The PH may well laugh longer

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

And just how can a PH refuse local jobs when they can't legally ply for hire in the first place?

You read it again. The letter covers more than just cherry picking.
It also says nothing about bookings since a rank pick up or street hail isn't a booking. It's an immediate hire.

If these officers make a test purchase from a PH, it will be to see if they are plying illegally.
If they are that PH driver will already be in trouble, regardless of where they want to go.
If he refuses the hire he's not in trouble. That's what he's supposed to do.

Offices can and do cherry pick.
It is not illegal for them to do so unless it is done for some sort of discriminatory reason e.g. Race, Religion or disability.

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

not according to the letter

"cant refuse short jobs"

fairly definitive in its content id say






brrr brrrr brrrr, hello, can you take me from a to b, its only half a mile

sorry sir, we dont do short jobs

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

As clear as case of touting as one can get, and maybe liable for a smack on the hooter from the cab trade.

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IDFIMH

nope

prebooked obviously

especially as there is no clear definition of prebooked, id have moved 5 yds after taking the booking and said get in chap


BTW, any act of violence from a HC driver would result in loss of his licence/badge/plate,etc...
or a bigger smack from a bigger PH driver

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most