Now, I know the argument is going to be that TfL private hire cars have never had door signs, so what is the problem? Well firstly, I know that at one point TfL allowed anyone to be able to drive a PHV that didn’t have a TfL private hire licence and I believe that this is still the case. If it is, then how stupid is that.


Even more alarming is that at one time TfL allowed the dual licensing of PHVs, although I don’t know if is the case now. But that was ridiculous because that meant the car and driver being licensed under two Acts. I know this was the case because I tackled Reigate and Banstead BC a few years ago that also allowed dual licensing ( I believe that this was only local authority that oddly allowed this) as one of their PHVs made a visit here with an R&B plate plus a TfL roundel which R&B considered at the time to be perfectly acceptable.


What I am trying to put across is that any argument that TfL does not allow door signs does not mean it knows best and the claim by Wolverhampton council that having door signs is dangerous just doesn’t wash with me.


So, Mr/Mrs/Miss Wolverhampton licensing officers, I would like to know what evidence you have which backs your ludicrous claim that having PHV door signs has been the cause of bogus cabs that have been up to no good? I will be submitting a FOI request to ask you that and to get the numbers.


The same illogical reasoning must be that all hackney carriages that are saloon cars should not have roof signs because some bogus ‘whatnot’ could put on a roof sign and do that same. Do you see where I am coming from? What must be banned however is the use of magnetic door signs as these could indeed be whipped off and used illegally.


In the meantime, Mr/Mrs/Miss Wolverhampton licensing officers, I put it to you that the real reason you have stopped requiring door signs on PHVs is because you have issued so many thousands of licences that you are unable to control what goes on the doors with all thousands of cars working hundreds of miles away from Wolverhampton enforcement with this Frankenstein Monster that you have created. The same reason why you don’t support compulsory CCTV, because you don’t have resources to be the data controller.


PHTM SEPTEMBER 2024


Odd that there is no support for compulsory CCTV for the safety of passengers and drivers, yet you are concerned about taking off door signs that do not identify the vehicle as a bonafide PHV which then makes a PHV look like every other single car on the road. Is it only me missing something here?


In Brighton & Hove, all hackney taxis (like mine) are fully identifiable being white with aqua boots and bonnets. All private hire vehicles must have door signs unless there is an exemption under contract work. Drivers working on only one circuit must display door signs with the number or name of that company, in theory.


To cater for the recent


changes from the old traditional way where a PHV driver only worked for a single company and now has the option to jump around, the council produced a generic PHV door sign.


Additionally, all PHVs have repeater licence plates on the rear doors, plus of course the standard rear licence plate.


All of these signs are permanent vinyl stickers including the rear ‘plate’ so they can never be removed. Once a licensed vehicle, always a licensed vehicle etc.


Having PHV door signs has never, ever in my forty years of being in the trade created an issue of bogus PHVs here. In fact, the only time that a bogus car posed as a cab has been when the car had no signage whatsoever.


I do put some of the blame on the DfT for the removal of door signs for PHVs as this was one of the points in the last ‘Best Practice Guidance’. But then again, I have never had any faith in that department because I’ve no doubt in my own mind that it is heavily influenced by a very powerful organisation.


Anyway, the villagers in the meantime are getting restless, so let’s hope that one day soon the ‘Wolverhampton Monster’ is brought to its knees as it tries to dilute standards by stealth.


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