Taxi Driver Online

You have to remember that VOSA have several different departments (and they do not talk to each other). The tacho specialist (traffic officer) would not be able to tell you what would pass a test regarding emergency exit lettering for example. At a test station you can get on "oink" whose only job is to tap with a hammer wheel nuts, they have no qualifications whatsoever and are paid minimum wage with a high staff turnover.
A T.O. or Technical Officer will have a good in depth knowledge of mot testing procedures but will not have a clue when it comes to drivers hours regs etc.
All good fun but no worse than some jumped up prat who works for the council and thinks they know it all

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

But with taxi/PH issues we have the likes of the good folks on TDO to tell these little 'jumped up pratts' what the law is.

When it comes to PSV (flexible routes) regs, from where I'm sitting no-one at VOSA has a f***ing clue.

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IDFIMH

Now im gonna throw a major spanner in the works here, i have just come back from a meeting and i can assure you on darn good authority that all this talk of coumcil licensing is not going to be worth a jiffy early part of next year, i know this is going to dissapoint some but i dont really care to be frank as this makes life so much easier for us all imo, THERE WILL BE A 1 LICENCE FOR ALL LIMOUSINES 1 to 16 SEATER , YES thats right by early part of NEXT YEAR!!!!!!!! Just you mark my words its coming and its VOSA led, hooray for VOSA they have got their act together and seen the light, well done to them, PCC's response to this news, fantastic as this was like a hot potato to us and we dont really want to touch this!!!!!!!!

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Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!

Well I'm glad something sensible is finally being sorted out because these limousines are a special type of vehicle. It is understandable why they need a special license to carry out an activity that is neither private hire as we know it or hire and reward at seperate fares. It is not our remit to do the work of the DfT and although some of us have grave concerns about the activity of these vehicles we can't really complain if they are finally to be licensed in a way that maximises their full potential.

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.

As opposed to the current system of no license for many 1-16 seater Limos.

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IDFIMH

This is not the fault of many of the operators.

I have a feeling that unless ALL other ways of operating limousines are stopped when the single license comes in, there will still be some operators who will not want to get the single license. For a start, there are the ones who carry over 16 at the moment. What are they going to do? Does anyone honestly expect them to suddenly only carry 16?
I have been operating quite happily for 7 years under private hire and although I would like to see the single license come in I am concerned what other little gems will also be contained within the legislation.

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Grandad,

Yes, and if it's legislation that's required for the regime then I can't see it happening by early next year.

And I doubt if VOSA could do it under the present legislation?

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

Hmmmm?

As I said a few posts back, the current legislation allows anything with a motor to be licensed as a PSV. So what's stopping anyone or anything being licensed?

Now I don't agree with that, but that's the way a TC described it to me shortly before he resigned.

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IDFIMH

Taking their motors away and/or banging them up would be as good a deterrant as anything else.

The problem some Limo people have is that for the last dozen or so years they have been getting away with taking some very big liberties.

If they can't handle a licensing regime as weak as VOSA enforces PSVs, then they best find another profession.

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IDFIMH

Mr S i agree with your sentiments entirely fella, if they cant licence them they shouldn't be driving them, end of imo however yopu have to bare in mind that a lot of limo ops have until the end of this year been using the ole 7 day contract which we all know to be a loop hole but at least it was sort of legal, gone are the days though and lets hope the serious ops can now make a better living rather than have all these cowboy firms!!!!

TDO I appreciate what your saying about time but trust me the draft copy is out!!!!!!

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Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!

Kermit get real that draft has been out ages. It was first spoted flying over Hamel Hampsted 10 months ago, 2 seconds behind the pig.
Go back to bed and take the pills.

Well if it needs a new Act of Parliament then normally it's a Green Paper, White Paper, Bill, First Reading, Second Reading, Committee Stage, Third Reading.

Then the same in the Lords

Then the Royal Assent, then some time later it comes into force.

All this takes a while, even assuming it runs smoothly.

I'm not saying that reform would need an Act of Parliament, or that it couldn't be tacked on to another Bill, but early next year seems a bit optimistic.

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

RRO

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

I was kind of thinking along those lines as well, but didn't they conclude that the RRO process was as cumbersome as normal legislation?

Remember, they were trying to introduce a new streamlined process more recently, but of course this led to claims that it effectively gave the Govt carte blanche to do anything without being subject to the normal checks and balances etc.

Don't know what happened to that, but I doubt if it got through Parliament unscathed.

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

Look into the way it works.

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!