In my last blog (a little while ago) I wrote about a taxi or
Hackney Carriage which could be hailed in the street and hired on a meter. The
alternative is a private hire vehicle which cannot be hailed. This service is booked
in advance through a licensed operator who keeps a list of all journeys (known
as a run sheet). They have set prices or quote using their own system and they charge
for dead mileage.
The vehicle is licenced under its local council. It is identified
in line with council conditions too, which could be a plate to the front and
rear (with windows stickers to the sides) or the operators name plastered all
over the vehicle. In contrast, some councils stipulate a small plate on just the
rear of the vehicle or even a single and discreet disk, mounted in the front screen.
The diversity comes from the way the law was formed and
introduced. Known as the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, every
council across the UK has its own interpretation of the conditions which govern
the industry (depending on their location and environment). These conditions can
vary from city to city and between rural locations too.
Crucially, the law was not carefully constructed by central government over a period of time. Instead it was lifted (in a rush) directly
from the Plymouth City Council Act 1975 which was specific to a borough of
England - and not necessarily the best fit for everywhere else. Over time, with
advances in communication technology and the evolution of the Internet the law has become
outdated.
To add to the diversity and confusion, a private hire
vehicle can have up to eight passenger seats and it can often be any make and
model the driver or operator prefers (subject to some licencing
conditions of course). This means some vehicles are bought for their rock bottom
prices and some, are bought for their level of quality and ability to perform.
