Coach Company bosses stripped of licences after involvement with rogue limo operator
Novelty limo hire firm Red Hot Rescue borrowed operator discs from coach company illegally
The two owners of a Walsall-based coach company have been stripped of their licences after they were found to have helped a rogue limo boss continue operating.
Fazal Hussain and Mohammed Arshad jointly ran Manor Buses and Coaches. They were found to have leant their operator licences to Darryl Williams of Red Hot Rescue limo hire company. Mr Williams was taken to court this year and banned from operating after an undercover investigation discovered he was using unsafe and unlicensed vehicles to provide a limo hire service in the Wolverhampton area.
Following the court proceedings, limo boss Mr Williams was ordered to pay £9,000 for a catalogue of safety and licensing breaches. He was found to have been operating without the correct licence for 3 years, and one of his limos didn’t have the correct MOT, amongst others problems.
During the investigation into Red Hot Rescue, the involvement of the coach bosses was uncovered. The coach company were found to have loaned their operator discs to Mr Williams.
Companies with multiple discs are permitted to loan their licences. However they cannot be loaned for longer than 14 days, and the person borrowing the disc must hold an operator’s license. Both of these conditions were breached.
Mr Hussain, who was known to have had a close relationship with Mr Williams, was banned from holding or applying for an operator’s licence for 18 months. Mr Arshad was already found to have lost his repute as a transport manager and no further order was made for him.
Limo Crash Injures Passenger on A1
Police are appealing for witnesses to a collision involving two vehicles on the A1 southbound at the junction with South Road, Alnwick in Northumberland.
Ford Excursion Limo
It happened at 1.20am, on Sunday, October 11, and involved a Ford Excursion Limo and a Vauxhall Astra.
A coach and a stretch limo were involved in two separate crashes on the A1.
A Vauxhall Astra was travelling south on the A1 near Alnwick, Northumberland, when a stretch limousine joined the road and collided with the car.
Anyone with information about the Scremerston crash is asked to call Northumbria Police on 03456 043 043, extension 63781. Anyone who witnessed the second crash near Alnwick is asked to dial extension 61374.
Full story at thechauffeur.com
D-Day For Limo Hire Industry Sparks London Demo Convoy
VOSA
More than forty stretched limousines have travelled to Parliament Square, London today in protest of new powers which many say will kill the limousine industry.
From yesterday, (1st October 2009) the Vehicle Operators and Services Agency (VOSA) has the power to impound vehicles which are designed to carry more than eight passengers if they do not comply with strict legislation.
A letter was also sent to thousands of UK operators three weeks ago demanding that their vehicles must hold a Certificate Of Initial Fitness (COIF) and the owner must have an operators licence to be legal.
Following this, hundreds of limousine operators from throughout the UK attended Drive ’09, the trade show for the chauffeur and limousine trades last weekend, to find out from VOSA officials what will happen to them if legislation is enforced from today.
See full story at thechauffeur.com
VOSA Invites Limo Hire Industry to Ask
Following the announcement of new legislation for over eight passenger limousines, VOSA is inviting members of the limousine industry to find answers to vital questions.
VOSA
The Government agency will be hosting an exclusive seminar at Drive ‘09 – The Professional Drivers Event to find out the concerns of the industry and explain new laws.
Organisers are compiling questions from the industry which will be put to officials at the seminar on both days of the event.
Want to know what you need to do to keep within the law? Don’t understand the new legislation? Want to know what is happening about illegal operators? Now is the chance to ask.
See Drive 09 for more details.
Limo hire industry to learn its future at Drive ‘09 by VOSA
VOSA
VOSA is to host an important seminar to educate the industry of its future during the Drive 09 gathering this month.
The government agency is to discuss the role of the agency and the current situation regarding the compliance of the limousine industry. Following various crackdowns on illegal vehicles and operators over the years, owners are eager to find out exact rules on how to operate legally.
The seminar will cover the overall limousine process from designing, importing and purchasing a vehicle through to registration, limo hire operation and maintenance requirements. The aim of the seminar is to improve compliance within the industry and ensure the vehicles are run in a safe and legal manner.
Other issues tackled are the the future changes that are expected to impact on the industry such as the introduction the EC whole vehicle type approval scheme.
Operators, drivers and those looking to enter the industry are being urged to attend the seminar in an attempt to show their support to laying down firm laws.
Register free at www.drive09.co.uk or visit TheChauffeur.com
Novelty limo hire firm puts vehicles up for sale on EBay after a damning report by the Traffic Commissioner
Novelty limos up for sale on EBay
As detailed in a previous article on Limo News, the troubled limo hire company Redhot Rescue and Oddball Limos based in Bilston has been forced to sell its limos after the business was investigated by the Traffic Commissioner. The business, owned by Darryll Williams, was found to be in breach of several safety laws which meant Mr Williams had to temporarily suspend trading.
However it seems the company’s plans to rise again have been scuppered as two of novelty limos, one a fire engine the other painted like a cow, are for sale on the online site. The reason for sale is stated as being “due to no time or dedication.” The party buses have a starting price of £20,000 each, as yet, no bids have been offered.
The canny business owner is still keeping his options open, in the advert he puts out an appeal to anyone who may be interested in “striking up a partnership” to get in touch.
The two novelty limos once provided a thriving business transporting party-goers around the West Midlands area. The 24 seater vehicles both have two separate bars onboard, including a champagne bar. The advert lists the limos features which include “lasers, smoke machines, disco lights, rope lights and a CD sound system.”
The limo hire company was brought into disrepute after applying for a Public Service Vehicle License. The Traffic Commissioner carried out checks on the business and uncovered a raft of problems. An 11 page report revealed some of the limos had the incorrect MOT and License, the fire engine was still registered as a emergency vehicle which made it exempt from tax, the limos were regularly overfilled with too many passengers and one limo’s brakes were so dire it was immediately taken off the road.
Rogue limo operator “on hold” for Novelty Limos
A midlands-based novelty limo operator has been condemned for several breaches of safety regulations by a government-appointed commissioner. Oddball Limos Ltd and Redhot Rescue Ltd, both based near Bilston near Wolverhampton, were recently the subject of an 11 page report detailing the many illegal activities undertaken by the rogue firm.
Both companies operate a fleet of ‘novelty’ limousines which provide an unusual experience. Examples of their fleet include a converted fire engine, ambulance and a “Mad Cow” coach which allows passengers full use of a large dance floor whilst on the move.
Darryl Williams, owner of both firms, is accused of avoiding vehicle tax by maintaining the emergency vehicle registration of some of his vehicles, exceeding passenger limits, operating vehicles without appropriate MOTs or licenses and operating a vehicle with a severely malfunctioning brake.
The report was conducted as a result to an application to renew the service licenses for the companies, the application has since been turned down, and Mr Williams has been quoted as saying “Things are on hold at the minute but we are looking to make improvements”.
As a result of the report, the traffic commissioner is calling for a hearing which would result in the forced disqualificaiton of Mr Williams’ other licenses which would inevitable lead to the collaspe of the firms.
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