5 minute waiting restriction for mini cabs sign. What is the legality of this?

w211

At the Sainsburys in Cromwell Road, London, there are signs placed around the car park saying "No parking for Mini Cabs".

Now I assume that this sign is placed so that empty mini cabs waiting for their next fare do not park here, thus taking up room for genuine shoppers.

However, what if you're a minicab driver on your break (and how can they not prove otherwise), and you go into Sainsbury's legitimately to buy your lunch and maybe do other shopping?

As this store is in London, the local authority licensing minicabs will be LTPH (London Taxi and Private Hire - formerly the PCO, Public Carriage Office). It is assumed that most minicabs which are here will be licensed by LTPH, and as far as I am aware you are also able to use a LTPH licensed mini cab for your own private/personal use.

So if it's your only car, can you do your shopping? How would the attendant know if your on duty or not? Some other local authorities have plates which identify them as minicabs, and these can simply be taken off. LTPH licensed vehicles have semi-permanent green roundel stickers on the top corner of the front and rear windscreens - so these can't be taken off.

Recently, I stopped here to buy my lunch and have a coffee in Starbucks (which is inside their store), whilst my client was at an appointment nearby (I'm more of a chauffeur than a minicab, though my car is still licensed by LTPH and have than green sticker). Yes, I did use a space to wait for my client, but I did go in the store to spend money, which I believe is a legitimate reason to be there (and didn't just sit there in my car, taking up a space).

I'm probably worrying about nothing, if anything arrives from Euro Car Parks, I will just ignore and wait for official court papers to arrive (unlikely, I assume), where I will ask if they can make the distinction of a minicab and chauffeur (doesn't say chauffeurs on the sign!), in the unlikely event if will come to court (plus I bought my lunch at their store).

Anyway, there's a big Tesco further down the road, with no such signs (yet!).



So the point of my post - is how is a minicab defined? How would the attendant know (seen one patrolling the car park), that the minicab owner is simply there doing their shopping?

rev_henry

Well I can see why they've done it, as well as taking up space, to prevent potential illegal plying for hire.

However it is nonsense, as you say how are you supposed to do your shopping? There's what 80000 minicabs in London? So none of those drivers are allowed to be customers?

I've found this which defines PHV, but not minicab, but the terms are obviously interchangeable.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/7/section/4

hoohoo

Put the ball in Sainsbury's court by informing them that you are a legitimate customer and that your minicab is your only transport. You therefore require them to exempt your registration from their restrictions so you can shop there.

Coupon-mad

hoohoo wrote: »

Put the ball in Sainsbury's court by informing them that you are a legitimate customer and that your minicab is your only transport. You therefore require them to exempt your registration from their restrictions so you can shop there.

Yep, no harm in that. I would do this up front at Customer Service and ask a Manager to sign a piece of paper you keep in your glove compartment, saying (and you can pre-type it) 'This is just to confirm that vehicle reg xxx xxxx has permission to be parked in the car park when the driver is shopping in store'.

By the way, ECP have never done Court - they even admitted as much in a National paper a couple of years ago. Then - just ONCE - when they saw forum posts laughing at them last year, they got all excited about someone's muiltiple 'tickets' and threw caution to the wind (it was a Sainsburys car park too!):

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=73765

The amount was only high because it was for LOTS of fake PCNs ignored by one clued-up person. Do not be concerned at all - that was the only recorded attempt and cost them so much in wasted Soliicitors' fees and made pepipoo posters' day so much that they won't try that again in a hurry! :rotfl:

BTW I have ignored ECP myself and they are toothless with zero authority and a predictable and laughable debt collector letter chain, shown in pics here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2329119

Stop worrying but get that note signed to help you with a POPLA appeal when you do get a fake PCN. And surely that notice ONLY refers to that single space directly under that sign? The whole car park cannot possibly be 'no parking at any time'!!

Stroma

What idiotic sign, perhaps next they will put signs restricting blue cars, or no people with red jackets, utterly unenforceable ! No wonder these idiots are laughed at so much ! They are just after another way to scam people