The proprietor of a limo hire firm based in Maryport, was found guilty at West Allerdale Magistrates’ Court, Workington, on Tuesday 10 June of driving a stretch limousine without a private hire driver or vehicle licence, having no operator licence and carrying alcohol on board for sale without a premises licence.

The prosecution was brought by Allerdale Borough Council in a joint operation with Cumbria Police and featured evidence gathered by a council officer who had posed as a customer booking Bell’s limousine service.

The court heard that on 31 January 2008 Bell had driven a white L-registration Lincoln town car at Derwent Howe, Workington, without possessing a private hire vehicle licence for the car or holding a private hire drivers’ licence for himself. He was also found to be carrying three bottles of sparkling wine in the limousine, intended for sale by retail, despite not having a premises licence to sell alcohol.

Outlining the case, Trevor Gear, Allerdale Borough Council’s Legal Executive, said: “Michael Bell is the proprietor of a white Lincoln stretch limousine which was not licensed as a private hire vehicle but was licensed as a restricted public service vehicle.

“The restrictions placed on the licence were that the vehicle must be used for carrying passengers at separate fares. He was not a licensed private hire driver or operator.

“On 28 January 2008, an officer of Allerdale Borough Council telephoned the limo firm and discussed hiring a vehicle. She was told that the price for four hours would be £280 or three hours for £220 and that this price would include two bottles of complimentary bubbly. She made a booking for Thursday 31 January at Workington Bowling Alley, Derwent Howe.

“On that date a police officer and the council’s enforcement officer were at Workington Bowling Alley when the white Lincoln town car 120″ stretched limousine drove into the car park. Mr Bell confirmed to the officer that he was at that location to fulfil the earlier booking. He was interviewed and three bottles of sparkling perry were seized.”

Magistrates heard this was the first offence of its kind for Bell, 41, of Peart Road, Grasslot. He was fined a total of £300 and ordered to pay £185 costs along with a £15 victim surcharge. The three bottles of sparkling wine were seized and destroyed under the Licensing Act 2003.

They are the ultimate “bling” transport choice for rappers and footballers’ wives alike, but the rise and rise of the stretch limo could finally be over. 

It is also the vehicle of choice for US President George Bush when he is in London for a visit
Councils are planning a safety crackdown on the monster-sized cars which have become a must-have for everything from hen nights and 21st birthday parties to American-style teenage prom events.

The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents more than 400 councils in England and Wales, claims up to 40 per cent of stretched limousines currently on the roads – more than 4,000 vehicles – could be operating illegally.

The LGA warned councils are planning a to carry out a series of checks with police and the Government’s Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA).

Features such as sound systems, televisions and mini bars have helped boost demand.

“The party is over for illegally-operated stretched limos,” Cllr David Sparks, the LGA’s transport spokesman said.

“Our message to parents is don’t swap style for safety when you book a stylish limo for your son or daughter’s prom.

“Councils are here to make sure people get around safely.

“While many limousine operators conduct their business in a safe fashion, we will crack down on the reckless minority who put passengers and pedestrians in serious danger.”

He said the crackdown would include checks to make sure drivers hold the correct licences and had been screened by the Criminal Records Bureau, the body which vets teachers and youth workers.

There will also be inspections for safety equipment such as fire extinguisher, first aid kits and the correct type of seat belts.

The move follow changes in the law which came into force in January requiring all limousines, except those used exclusively for weddings and funerals, to be licensed as Private Hire Vehicles.

Bill Bowling, licensing officer at the National Limousine and Chauffeur Association, said: “As a trade body we make sure that our drivers are Criminal Record Bureau-checked, vehicles are properly licensed and that limos have checks every 10 weeks.

“There has not been a passenger fatality in a limousine in the UK to date, which statistically makes it the safest way to travel bar none.

“However, what we all wish to achieve is more, better and specific legislation for limousines.”

You are no doubt aware of recent changes to legislation and may be aware of yet more proposed changes including the ban on side facing seats.  You are possibly already experiencing difficulties with VOSA road side inspections, local authority inspections, or have heard horror stories from other operators.
You may be in favour of change to current limousine legislation or might be happy with the way things are right now but are concerned about the future. Perhaps everything is fine and you are confident about the future.

What happens next in the industry will impact on your business for better or worse. We operators can impact on how our industry is treated by regulators but only if we can mount a sustainable campaign for change.

A campaign for change will only bring an initial flurry of excitement and very limited results if it does not have the support of the entire industry and can supply documented evidence of support. A successful campaign will need accurate industry statistics which outline the benefits to the economy, accurate prospective growth figures and an intelligent proposal for change that has mass support within the industry.

The first step of such a campaign is to gather information. This will be used to produce a report which will show how large the UK limo industry actually is, how many people it employs, and a clear picture of UK turnover and growth prospects. The report should also outline what limo operators currently find acceptable and unacceptable in terms of regulation and perhaps more importantly, what changes must be made to ensure the long term growth of this fledgling industry.

With this in mind, a new website has been created.

www.LegislationForLimos.co.uk is now online. Its sole purpose is to gather industry data for analysis.
The website is for all limousine operators in the UK. It gives you the chance to voice your ideas and ensures that industry organizations and government regulatory bodies, alike sit up and take notice.
Please visit the site and complete the questionnaire. The data will be analysed and the ultimate findings will be forwarded to you. The report will contain industry figures only and will not specify individual company data.

This information can then be used to build and give real support to a sustainable campaign to lobby for the right legislation in order to nurture the growth of our industry.

This can only be done with overwhelming support from all operators.

Please visit the website at www.legislationforlimos.co.uk and add your voice to the intelligent campaign for change by completing the questionnaire.

Without it, the industry will never realize its true potential as a genuine customer service industry that brings real benefits to the UK economy.

For example Delegate Steve DeBoy is looking to bring up some of the bills which they lost in this year’s legislature. While DeBoy wants to push one of his bills concerning impersonating a police officer further than it was able to travel this year, he is also under pressure to withdraw some of his bills too.

One bill which DeBoy was asked to review the submission of was aimed at regulating limousine services. The state Public Service Commission also showed interest in negotiating some of the regulations, however the Maryland Limousine Association has asked DeBoy to withdraw this bill.

With the support of the Public Service Commission, the concerns outlined in DeBoy’s bill are likely to be addressed during the interim, and if not, he will re-introduce the bill again next year. The regulation of the limousine services in the area is concerned with the fact that many limousine hire companies do not take their business or their services very seriously and therefore don’t bother securing the proper insurance.

The Maryland Limousine Association however, is concerned over the extra regulation in an already heavily monitored industry and in regulating limousine hire companies and their insurance requirements across the board, it does not account for the fact that no two limousine hire companies, nor their passengers, are the same.

However, for more information about hiring a limousine with the insurance necessary for your special event and your specific needs, contact one of the many limo hire companies listed on this site.

The Stretch Limousine Law…

Every-time I speak to limousine operators with regards to the limo law, I get a different answer every time.

• So what really is the law?
• How many passengers can I carry?
• Is S6 the way forward?
• Am I legal to carry 16 in a Hummer?
• Am I covered from the insurer?
• Is VOSA happy with my operation?
• Will my limo be taken off the road on my next job?

These are the questions most limousine operators have whilst operating their businesses.

So you think stretch limos should apply to a set law?

POST YOUR COMMENTS NOW!

Details of Petition:
“At present none of the laws truly fit stretched limousines, these vehicles are being forced into legislation which is neither appropriate nor fair. There are at present 2 main associations representing this industry who have been trying to lobby this cause only to have most doors blocked by unfair and antiquated law. Its time this industry of over 10,000 (tax paying) limousines had a say and the government allowed VOSA/DVLA and the police to work with this industry instead of against. Very soon proposed and badly thought out legislation will force over 50% of these vehicles of our roads simply because the industry has had no say and not because they are dangerous. Over 30 years the stretched limousine industry has been in business in the UK and not 1 single person has been killed in one. The safety record speaks for itself!!!”

Read the Government’s response…
The Government is aware that there has been some confusion surrounding the licensing and safe operation of stretch limousines. The Department for Transport issued Guidance for Operators of Stretch Limousines in January, which sets out clearly the requirements for the safe and legal operation of this type of vehicle.

The law is clear in this area. Virtually any motor vehicle used in Great Britain to carry passengers for hire or reward on a commercial basis needs a licence of some kind. The type of licence required depends upon on the capacity of the vehicle and the type of hire or reward operation undertaken rather than the type of vehicle used. Operating without the requisite licence is a criminal offence.

For vehicles constructed or adapted to carry more than 8 passengers, the licence required is a public service vehicle (PSV) operator’s licence issued by the Traffic Commissioner. For vehicles adapted to carry 8 passengers or fewer, it is either:

• a taxi or private hire vehicle (PHV) license if the vehicle is hired out, with a driver, as a whole (taxis can ply for hire, PHVs can only take pre-booked hirings). These licences are administered by the relevant local authority who have discretion on what vehicles they will license (DfT has issued guidance to the licensing authorities advising them to consider any applications for PHV licences for limousines on their merits rather than formulating local policies which effectively rule out limousines altogether);
• a PSV operator’s licence if it is used for carrying passengers at separate fares “in the course of a business of carrying passengers”, once again issued by the Traffic Commissioner.

To legally carry more than 8 passengers on UK roads the vehicles must comply with various parts of the Construction and Use Regulations 1986, including Schedule 6 (Minibuses). Vehicles of the stretched limousine type, at present, do not – in particular they often do not have adequate emergency exits, the turning circle is too large and the lights, tyres and glass are non-compliant.

If constructed to meet the required standards there is nothing stopping a limousine from obtaining a Certificate of Initial Fitness (COIF) and operating as a PSV using a PSV operator’s license.

From Summer 2008, a new pre-registration inspection will prevent the registration of limousines that do not comply with the Construction and Use regulations. This should have the effect of ensuring that in future, larger limousines (with more than 8 passenger seats) are able to comply with the COIF standards that must be met for the limousine to be licensed to carry paying passengers.