Taxi Driver Online

Council takes private hire driver off the road – because his car was the wrong shade of silver



A private hire driver has been put off the road – because his car is the wrong shade of silver.

Asif Khan has worked as a private hire driver in Manchester for seven years. But when he decided to swap his private-hire car from a silver Volkswagen Passat to a silver Honda Accord, he hit a snag.

The dad-of-two, from Cheetham Hill, was told by the town hall that his badge could not be renewed because the new car did not meet the council’s strict colour code.

Bosses have ruled that private hire cars must be white or silver – and have issued a colour ‘swatch’ showing the exact shades which qualify.

The rule was brought in by Manchester council as a safety measure to help crackdown on bogus taxi drivers.

But Mr Khan, 31, of Leicester Road, said there was virtually no difference between his new cab and the town hall’s chart of accepted colours.

Now he faces having to buy a new car – or pay a huge bill to get his cab re-sprayed.

He said: “I have been to the council twice and they say it is grey.

“The only way I can get it passed is by buying a new car or re-spraying it.

“But it’s practically the same colour as my old car. It says silver in the log book and on the insurance documents.

“I can’t believe it. I have a family and I am out of work now until they change their mind.”

A town hall spokesman said: “The council has had a colour policy for private-hire vehicles for several years to improve passenger safety by making it easier for members of the public to recognise properly licensed cars.

“Manchester’s licensed private-hire vehicles can be either silver or white, but difficulties have arisen because the DVLA’s definition of silver includes shades ranging from grey to blue.

“A clearer definition of silver was introduced in 2008 to avoid confusion and make it easier for taxi operators when choosing new vehicles.

“We have worked with the licensed trade to make sure private-hire operators and drivers understand the requirements, and over the last 18 months there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of vehicles that fail to meet the standard.

“However, some people do make mistakes and in cases like this we provide advice and refund the application fee.”

source: http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/

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

You can tell Council erseholes have never had a proper job that involved making a profit for their employers....if they did have they would never have come up with such a petty rule that involved making shades of Silver an important issue, and one which makes a mockery of those that have to work hard and make a living to pay taxes to keep the council ersholes in a cosy job in the first place..

An Ungrateful and spiteful lot....

An appeal to a magistrate should soon sort out these jobs-worths

Ah Joe public knows which shade of silver or white is properly license vehicle, probly the council gives joe public a colour chart so you can match it up

There was a similar case in Newcastle upon Tyne a few years ago when a gentleman replaced a "black cab" only to be told by little jobsworth dictators that it was not black enough !!! The mind boggles I think he got a result when he took them to court.

It would be successful.

_________________
IDFIMH

It isnt like me to court controversy but isnt it/wouldnt it, be sensible in any area of doubt to offer up a vehicle for the perusal of the LO before purchase?....

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

Obey the rules!!!!!!!

but the driver chose to ignore it then?

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

If the sh*theads had a dress code it would be the wrong shade of black!!

FFS, where do these idiots come from?

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

bad day??.....I know you spoke to me.....so that can't of helped

CC

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

Perhaps CC or Brum may have the court details

Not me mate.

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

Although this is breaking news on here, it is very old news on Manchester. This has happened quite a lot, that is why the council produced a swatch telling you the range within what they "deem" as silver. Many have been refused, but without publicity. Asian drivers like jap cars particularly Toyoto's. Some cars stated as silver by Toyota and others look like a pale green metalic. The council have issued many news bullitins and notices about the problem, so this guy has been warned well in advance.

The time to go to court about this has long passed, everybody was asked to contribute to go to the high court when the color decision was passed by the council. Although there were nearly 2000 propriortes nobody would stump up the cash. Tough luck.

Article about this in the Daily Mail.

From that picture the motor looks silver to me.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ds-newsxml

_________________
IDFIMH