Taken from the current edition of Licensing News
STRETCHING THE FARE
With over 11,000 such vehicles on the road according to the National Limousine Association, they have posed a licensing headache with licensing authorities unhappy to licence vehicles which can carry more than eight passengers, and whose provenance, maintenance and general roadworthiness is often in question.
Features such as low ceilings and inadequate emergency exits mean that at the moment, not a single limo in the country can safely carry more than eight passengers. The Traffic Commissioners have often been reluctant to licence these vehicles for similar reasons, as they would breach the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981.
The Local Government Association has today warned that local licensing officers will work closely with the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency to take action against the estimated 6000 vehicles that are operating illegally. Many of these vehicles are stretched Navigator or Hummers imported from the US, capable of carrying up to thirty passengers, costing up to £100,000 and with hire charges of around £450 an hour in London.
The LGA is also calling for people to inform their local council if operators offer cars for more than eight people.
Councils around the country are already taking proactive action to deal with the vehicles. Thurrock, Chelmsford, Basildon, Southend and other Essex authorities regularly work with the local police on enforcement operations, and a recent check saw all twelve vehicles that were stopped to be breaking the law.
Greater Manchester councils have banded together to write to all limo businesses in the region, advising them that action will be taken if they are breaking the law, and Birmingham city council regularly carries out test purchasing.
Under the present law, local authorities licence vehicles for private hire when they carry eight or less passengers. Any more than that and the vehicle needs a public service vehicle licence and a certificate of initial fitness, which are demanded of buses or minibuses and subjecting those vehicles to more regular MOTs. PSVs are licensed by the Traffic Commissioners, who have not licensed any stretch limousine.
LGA transport spokesman councillor David Sparks said: 'It is deeply worrying that so many limo companies are taking the safety of their passengers so lightly. Because of their low roofs and lack of decent safety exits, these vehicles just aren't safe for lots of passengers'.
'Limo businesses should be warned that councils will work with the police to take action against those that flout the law. People should contact their council if they are offered limos for more than eight passengers'.
To help support licensing authorities and limo operators, the Department for Transport intends to publish a short guidance document, available in the Library section of
www.instituteoflicensing.org Covering both private hire vehicle licensing and PSV licensing issues, the booklet also explains the concept of PSVs ainv to charge seperate fares to operate, and the routes available to operators who have licences refused by a local authority.
The number of limousines are expected to grow from 3000 vehicles in 2003, to 11,000 this year. Expansion is expected to continue at the rate of 50 per cent a year for the next five years. Membership of the National Limousine Association has almost trebled in the past three years.
An explosion in bookings to take children to American-style 'proms' has helped to fuel the demand. David Carrigan, of Limelight Limousines in Belfast, told The Times that limos brimming with children was a common sight: 'I often see people carrying fourteen young people in a short limo that should only hold eight and that is dangerous,' he said.
'I always make sure under-18s are accompanied by an adult but a lot of companies don't. We should crack down on these people.'
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