Taxi Driver Online

So basically what you suggest is that there is only one form of taxi that is the kind that can pick up off the streets and be pre-booked as necessary. Sounds sensible to me but what kind of vehicle would you need to do this?

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

I'm not advocating it, but thats about what happened here and there isnt illegal plying by PH, because apart from about 10 PH cars the rest are PH but minibuses.....everything else is HC, be this saloons under a certain age and of a certain colour or WAV's who have a longer lifespan.

CC

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

Doing away with PH would mean 250,000* signing on, or 250,000* new HC plates, what would the HC trade prefer?....

doesnt bother me, i WONT pickup off the streets anyway, even as a hackney, as a PHV i have names, addresses and contact numbers on record, handy if i have hassles

then again, it would stop the unlicensed trade full stop, all legal taxis would have a big roof light, ANYTHING else picking up would be illegal







*guesswork on PH plated vehicles

This is what I get for asking questions just more confusion. It appeared to me that you were indeed advocating a single system for taxis and that would that all taxis could be private/public hire. Also how many seats do these private hire 'minibuses' have? Apparently if there is only upto 8 seats then this is still a car and not a minibus. Also if there isn't illegal plying for hire by PH then who is doing the 'pirating'

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

I'm not advocating anything, just stating that in the land of milk and honey we dont have pirates anymore.

The minibuses licensed as PH are PH because they're not PSV's and they have the correct amount of seats.

CC

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

Problems not PH in general..its Lazy ars*d Council Taxi department Officers not policing their beat right.

Hi Skull

Cheers for your comments - didn't totally think it though when I started typing. As Cap Cab said, it's illegally plying for hire, but I maybe thought users on here may have realised what I was refering to.
Chris

Hi taxiCabman

Can you send me a private message with details please. I'll then send this on to the guys that run the "United Independent Taxi Association" in Newcastle. I for one would certainly add to any funds that would be required to get an independant firm to "capture" illegal activities.
Just the fact that you see the same taxis' coming back time and time again to the same area indicates that they are likely to be "flimping". You can't tell me that they always get a booking to pick up from the same bar/club/restaurant time and time again.


As for the comment regarding too much work on the streets from grandad, this is totally incorrect. At the moment a Saturday night is the only night whereby you are able to make a little money (last monday I made £40 on nightshift!). Like many drivers I usually keep going back to the same clubs or pubs and when you notice the same Private Hire lads picking up when you pull in to the rank, or infront of you when you pull in or even coming in towards the rank when you have a job in the taxi, all points to one thing - illegal work.

Another thing which helps you decide that (some of) the Private hire lads are taking the p!ss is the fact most hackney taxis have CB's and we are informing each other what is happening.....however, getting out the taxi and letting the driver know that he is being watched isn't going to get us anywhere. We all know that all they need to say is "I'm on a booking" and thats the end of that - total crap.

With the amount of money the Council gets the ONLY solution is to employ a Hackney Taxi driver as an enforcement officer. He can inform the council where the illegal activity happens and get on top of this huge problem before its too late.

I believe the last time they were out on the streets was July - what a joke.

Chris

according to the DSA, Vosa and D

VLA a "minibus" has 9 to 16 passenger seats

BTW chris, CB radios are outlawed in the local LA regs here

breaker breaker...

There is always the option to ask the council to employ taxi marshalls to keep ahead of whats going on and to help ensure that people actually get into the vehicles they are supposed to. IMO ensuring the safety of the public is the best way forward. Employing a taxi driver as some kind of spy isn't really practical and would prevent him from earning a proper living as a taxi driver if he spends his time snooping.

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