Taxi Driver Online

I know up here in scotland there is an exemption to use a Vehicle for Hire or reward on a 24 hour Contract basis. but how do the guys in england that do runs for Hire and reward get away with it. I often see luxury BMW's, Mercedes, VW Phaetons etc picking up at airports and Hotels, I know these cars are performing a similar service as PH operators are doing yet they do not have PH licensing plates on the vehicles. the reason I know they are working for Hire and reward is that Ive twice been double booked at the same time as these guys only to lose out on a run because one person booked an Executive car and another person on their behalf booked a PH vehicle. It must be a Highly lucrative business this top end executive driver and Vehicle hire as I certainly couldnt run Vehicles of that Value as a PH operator. sooooooooo..how do they get away with it??? is there a Clause in a rule book somewhere that lets them get away with it? and how does it Pay???

We use to have a seven day exemption, but thankfully that's been out-lawed since Feb 2008.

It was abused as much as I reckon your 24 hour version is, including firms using 100s of unchecked vehicles and drivers. One such firm has just gone bust, and a quite rightly so.

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IDFIMH

There is case law down here that made what most of the seven exemption trader illegal. But they still did it as no-one enforced the law.

But now that case law is no-longer needed, as the exemption is a thing of the past. TBH I'm surprised your government hasn't followed suit.

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IDFIMH

But the theres loads of these guys in the affluent north east of england...hmmmm..maybe affluent is the wrong choice of words, but still theres plenty about.

If they are picking up in Scotland it doesn't matter where they are based. If they are picking up in England then best they are licensed.

Not saying everyone is pukka, but if they are not then, in time, they will be caught.

I suppose they only way around for some is to get a PSV restricted license, but for under 9 passengers they will only be able to charge separately. Well that's what the law says.

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IDFIMH

Heres a link to one such company..it seems they have Private hire and something Called "corporate hire services" to cover airport transfers.

http://www.parkersexec.co.uk/Parkers%20 ... vices.html

if it works for them maybe im in the wrong line of Business..

According to the Whois register they are based just outside of London, so they need to be licensed.

Domain name:
parkersexec.co.uk

Registrant:
Stuart Martin

Registrant type:
UK Individual

Registrant's address:
P.O Box 514
Kings Langley
Herts
WD4 8XP
GB

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IDFIMH

In that case are they hiding there PH plates within the Vehicles...as the Vehicles ive seen are never plated (im not saying its the ones in this companys advert..these are just an example) and if the plates are not on display then that must be less than legal also!

I have an exemption from my LA so that I don't have to display the plates on the outside of either my stretched limos or my executive cars, so it may be that SOME of these vehicles have the same exemption. No exemption is available for the driver not to wear his/her drivers badge. PCV and restricted PCV vehicles have to display the disc in the front window of the vehicle. The vast majority of vehicles that used the contract exemption before it was removed have simply not bothered to get licensed. Lets face it, if the driver has no badge on display and his car is parked in the car park, who, with any certainty, would know that they were not just an employee of the company that the passenger works for?
Just no enforcement taking place at all.

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Grandad,

A Valid point...whos to know

I like the Idea of an exemption to show plates though...a bit more classy than a great big snowplough of a plate stuck on the Grille..

quote]

I always thought Volvo's came with one as standard

Anyone carrying out a business of "hire and reward" in England and Wales, requires a license. There are no exeptions.

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

my LA have a "speciality plate" for limos and pony and trap.....(thats NOT rhyming slang btw)

not seen a wedding car with one though

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

If some Licensing authorities see fit to exempt certain vehicles from requiring a license plate then I believe there is no reason why they shouldn't display a small unintrusive circular disc, similar to a tax disc.

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

You won't see a wedding car with one will you. They are exempt from licensing. So you can carry out a business for hire and reward without a license.

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Grandad,