Taxi Driver Online

Who is your LA Jay seems a bit illogical having to get both hc and pH licences, I dont think there are many that do that, normally if you have hc then your covered for both.
I hope JD or TDO will let us know, I personally think the council is being unreasonable
Im sure there is something in the rules that states your covered for both

In Scotland that is the position, but down here many councils have joint taxi/PH licenses, but most have separate ones.

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IDFIMH

Its a bloody con job if you ask me Sussex a HC should cover both no matter who issues it

In newcastle there is no combined badge eithier,so to drive a ph plated car a hack licenced driver would have to pay another 60 quid for the ph badge.

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www.youtube.com/watch?v=z07K29Fc15U

Very true, a very high percentage of drivers start and end their Taxi career knowing absolutely nothing about the rules. All credit to those who are willing to make the effort to learn as they go along but I think an increasing number of councils are now introducing knowledge tests that do include such things as limited bylaw questions.

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.

There is no logical reason why a hackney carriage drivers badge shouldn't include Private hire. We have discussed the policy before and the only reason in my opinion why councils don't combine the two is because of additional revenue.

In my opinion under current legislation anyone who desires just a private hire badge should be allowed one and a hackney carriage badge should combine both.

However the Taxi owners association the NTA who also like to think they represent the majority of cab drivers are of the opinion that councils know best, so it is no wonder that there has never been a concerted effort to get this cash cow removed.

It is patently obvious to me that councils who have such a policy certainly know whats best for them in terms of revenue, which in this particular case as we probably agree to a man, is contrary to the best interest of cab drivers.

If anyone cares to support councils who don't combine both badges then I'm sure we would all be interested to hear your views.

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.

My LA, Skippy, is Bournemouth. This separation of the two licences came about when our friendly local constabulary, accompanied by officers from the Town Hall,were out one evening.Obviously, concerned for our well being,they took the time to randomly flag in some passing PH and HC vehicles to make sure there was nothing nasty going on with the tyres etc, so none of us would hurt ourselves while going about our business.They are very thoughtful like that.One PH car they kindly checked, they noticed that the driver was not wearing his seat belt.The driver,fresh from completing his B Tech course so with a mind full of rules and regulations said, "As a licenced HC driver I dont have to wear one." To which the officer replied, "If you are a licenced HC driver, what are you doing driving a PH ?" The Town Hall officers observed all this, and quickly afterwards decided that we should all have two separate licences.

"As a licenced HC driver I dont have to wear one"??????? (seatbelt)

Since when?

Did he pass his B Tech?

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Former taxi driver

A quote from TRANSPORTING PASSENGERS BY TAXI AND PRIVATE HIRE Unit 4 page 11; "Taxi drivers are exempt from wearing seat belts when carrying passengers and plying for hire within their own district. Private hire drivers are exempt from wearing seat belts only when carrying passengers."

Jd Could this come under best practice regulations?? as its seems that councils that charge for both are profiteering and could be challenged in court as being unreasonable and unnecessary
I think a nicely worded letter to the councils that charge for both is on the cards JD

This is one area that makes private hire not suitable for stretched limousines or for that matter most executive hire. If you have to get a combined Hackney/private hire drivers badge, you will have to pass the "local" knowlege test even though you may never actually work in your "local" area. The vast majority of my work never even goes through my "local" area.

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Grandad,

Well quite.

So Jay, when a dual badged driver is driving a PH, is he a Hack driver or a PH driver? In your opinion.

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Former taxi driver

I think Jay fully understands the difference. It was the new driver that he was quoting who was having the problem.

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Grandad,

I think the regulations refer to the vehicle rather than the driver, so the question is academic in this context?

However, since the driver of a PH vehicle can't do the primary thing that distinguises a taxi from a PH vehicle (ie ply for hire) then I would class the driver of a PH vehicle with a dual badge as a PH driver.

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

Yes, I knew that, I just wondered what Jay's view was.

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Former taxi driver