Taxi Driver Online

Evening Times (Glasgow)

September 21, 2006

HEADLINE: GET A KID SEAT OR LOSE YOUR TAXI LICENCE;

Safety blitz on private hire drivers

The new rules apply only to the city's private hire taxi fleet

GLASGOW'S private hire drivers could be kicked off the road by the city council if they don't provide booster seats for children.

But the move has sparked fury as national guidelines exempt all taxis from the new legislation - and the city crackdown won't apply to black cabs.
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Evening Times (Glasgow)

September 21, 2006

HEADLINE: Licence threat to taxi drivers over kid seats

BYLINE: By CAROLINE WILSON

Booster seats could cost city private hire drivers their licences

PRIVATE hire taxi drivers in Glasgow have been warned they could lose their licences if they fail to provide booster seats for children.

The city council move goes even further than new road safety laws introduced this week.

Taxi drivers were exempted from the new legal requirement for booster seats for under12s in cars, but Glasgow's enforcement officers will be targeting private hire drivers with spot checks.

However, hackneys will still be exempt.

Private hire drivers who fail to provide a booster seat in their cars within 14 days of receiving a warning ticket will be stripped of their licence.

The move has sparked fury from private hire drivers who say the requirement should be relaxed in line with the national law and should apply to all taxi drivers.

Martin McGreechin, 36, from Cranhill, who works for Glasgow Private Hire, was given a warning ticket on Monday by enforcement officers. He said: "I was told if I did not produce a booster seat within 14 days I would be put off the road.

"The national guidance states we are exempt, but Glasgow City Council has decided to enforce it. " Under the legislation, under-12s who are less than 4ft 5in will have to use a booster cushion in private cars. Drivers face onthe-spot fines of GBP30 if they fail to comply with the law.

Kenny McLeod, head of Glasgow Private Hire Association, said: "We will be meeting the council to discuss the implications for private hire drivers."

A council spokeswoman said: "Some years ago it became a condition of private hire drivers' licences to have booster seats for children over three and under 12. "We are surprised people are complaining about higher standards of safety for children."

She said there were no plans to extend the requirement to hackney cabs because of differences in the way they were licensed.

caroline.wilson@eveningtimes.co.uk
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Is that right?

Sounds f***ing mad to me.

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IDFIMH

What bother me is - why is a Hackney classed as safer than a Private Hire in terms of this booster seat stipulation?

I have no problems with the booster seats - actually I welcome it, but feel GCC are a bit heavy handed in this.

The enforcement are actually pulling guys to check for booster seats, no booster seat and the plates are whipped off (and thus you are instantly supended)

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The views and comments of Charlie are virtual only - as this is t'internet boys and girls!

No running to the bosses - nobody likes a grass!

so what do you do when some woman come out of the house with three small kids? and where does the booster seat go when you got 4 big adults and suit cases for an airport run?

Thats an interesting point. Conclusion order a limo instead

sorry folks i just couldn't resist

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Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!

But if the limo is licensed as PH......

But that highlights another Glasgow hypocrisy....they don't even license limos

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

If the limo is licenced as PH then yep you got it, they dont need the boosters and as for licencing, NO COMMENT, he he he, however i have been on to VOSA today to ask this point about vehicles that are licenced via them ie PCV and guess what, im still awaiting a call back some 4 hours later. Its all very well them bringing in these new regs and things and i do happen to agree also, but at least know how to implement them and know who and what qualifies for relaxation of said laws o9r would that be in an ideal world

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Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!

lap seat belts

Apparantly Taxi and PH are classed as the same as far as the exemption from this law is applied.
And thats from a traffic sargent.
The only thing i can think of is it's different in Scotland, but i doubt it is.

Perhaps the PH trade in Glasgow should ask for written confirmation as to which booster seat to purchase and also that the council will then accept full liability when a child then uses something that is inappropriate for its weight/height. Or do they expect each vehicle to tow a trailer with the 100 or so different sizes etc.

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

The law is the same up here.

BUT, it's just Glasgow City Council "enhancing the safety" rules (so they say.

One booster seat per car, thats whats needed according to them

PLUS, Strathclyde Police have stated that they will NOT be procecuting any PH driver for no boosters - but they say council rules can only be enforced by council officials - like these guys...

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The views and comments of Charlie are virtual only - as this is t'internet boys and girls!

No running to the bosses - nobody likes a grass!

Round our way the council sent us a leaflet but as enforcement is non existent and Richard has already had his once a year trip to the town I don't think we need to worry besides which it is 100% hackney here there are no PH cars in town except one airport specialist who no longer plates his car hmmmmmm wonder if he ever takes cash

Whats an airport specialist

He only does trips to and from Airports nothing else he used to be a licensed cabbie but discovered he could get away with not being licensed


It has occurred to me that the single booster seat required in Glasgow is for front seat use in the event of the car carrying a minor in the front seat

As far as I am aware all taxis would need to have this if they carry children in the front seat