Taxi Driver Online

Stretched limos feel long arm of the law


POLICE stopped stretch limousines ferrying children to end-of-year school proms in a licensing crackdown on the novelty vehicles.

They stopped more than 12 limousines and Hummers at Keele University in a joint operation with Stoke-on-Trent City Council and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA)

It was carried out between 7pm and 10pm on Friday as the vehicles took students from Biddulph High School to Keele Hall for their prom.

Many of the vehicles were then meant to transport children from St Joseph's College, in Trent Vale, and from Cheadle High School to their own proms.

But it is understood some were delayed for more than an hour, while others didn't turn up at all.

Police – who are still collating figures from the operation – found drivers who did not have the proper insurance and dangerous vehicles. One limo was towed away.

Councillor Joy Garner, chairman of the council's licensing and registration panel, said: "The operation uncovered lots of different problems with both the drivers and the vehicles.

"Many people using limos are very vulnerable. The adult passengers can be at risk because they have had too much to drink, and increasingly we are seeing young children using limos for birthday parties.

"They can be at risk if the checks and legislation are not enforced.

"Many of the cars are imported from America where they can only be used for five years because of the safety problems they present.

"A lot of the extended chassis can become dangerous and need to be properly safety checked to operate."

Two years ago the city council was one of the first authorities in the country to bring in Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks on drivers of vehicles commonly hired for stag and hen nights, and children's parties.

All private hire drivers have to pass the enhanced police check at least every three years to make sure they are safe to transport the public.

Lynton Hewitt, pictured, who runs Diamond Limousines, in Longton, said: "All limousine companies should be properly licensed and the drivers properly checked because we are carrying out a public service.

"All my vehicles are licensed with VOSA and checked every 10 weeks.

"I have four vehicles and three of them were stopped at Keele on Friday. I am happy to co-operate with the authorities because I know all our checks and licences are legitimate."

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

Shock horror !!!

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IDFIMH

I wonder what % of those vehicles charge separate fares?

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IDFIMH

Police in Dundee carried out an operation a few months ago to catch private hire and limo drivers breaching conditions they reported the limo drivers to the fiscals office and the private hire drivers to the council .Both sets of drivers were caught driven without the proper licence so why report one to fiscals and one to the council.

Where on earth do they get this rubbish from? The first part is total bo11ocks and the second part is checked at least annually at the MOT test.

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Grandad,

we all know that stretch limos use the same dodgy welding that cut'n'shut repairers use

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

I think you are misinformed if you believe that.

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Grandad,

well they didnt come out of any car factory 24 feet long did they......

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

How many seats is this one?....

(note the big hammer on the welder bottom left)





nice scissor jacks and wooden blocks!

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

Have you never heard of QVM and CVC?

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Grandad,

are they the TV shopping channels?

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

now this i COULD live with

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

And just how do you think they made the original car longer?

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Grandad,

id trust a MPW conversion, must be the worlds finest

not sure about an Uncle Sam Chop Shop though

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

Aren't you sending your daughter out in one (unlicensed) for her prom?

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Grandad,