Transport for London wins Addison Lee taxi ruling

[glasgowcyclist]

http://www.localgov.co.uk/index.cfm?method=news.detail&id=105562


"Transport for London has won a legal battle against taxi firm, Addison Lee, preventing its drivers from using the capital’s bus lanes. "

"A TfL statement added: ‘The interim injunction will remain in place until judicial review proceedings, on the issues of private hire in bus lanes, conclude.’ "

So a temporary reprieve for you guys in London...

 

[BentMikey]

LOL! Have you read the AL press release? AL wins court case.

 

[gaz]

LOL! Have you read the AL press release? AL wins court case.

HAHA i saw that, looks like they are saying it because TFL's wording on one section wasn't up to scratch. So AL don't need to retract the letter.

 

[martint235]

The AL press release does quote the judge though which the LocalGov website doesn't. The Judiciary website doesn't yet have the judgement up so it's impossible to tell which side is telling the truth.

 

[machew]

Both statements cannot be correct

The Court also declared the ‘indemnity’ the firm issued to its drivers on 14 April, which offered to pay fines and other costs if they used bus lanes was ‘void and unenforceable’.

and

In the meantime, the Court has confirmed that it would be entirely lawful for Addison Lee to decide, after any fine has been imposed on a driver for driving in a bus lane, to reimburse that driver in respect of the fine should it wish to do so.

 

[snorri]

http://www.addisonlee.com/press/read/561

 

[gaz]

"Transport for London has won a legal battle against taxi firm, Addison Lee, preventing its drivers from using the capital’s bus lanes.

Preventing isn't quite right here. Whilst yes they are not allowed to use them. There is nothing stopping them from doing so and nothing stopping AL paying any fines their drivers receive for doing so.

 

[Alun]

It's a shame it's not 3 points on their licences as well as a fine.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

BikeBiz tries to explain this apparently contradictory ruling.

 

[growingvegetables]

Grauniad report - covers both sides.

 

[fossyant]

If they paid the 'fine' to the driver, it would be a benefit in kind - wonder if it get's 'mentioned' to HMRC !

 

[BSRU]

Cannot AL not see that if they actually win their right to use the bus lanes like black cabs then TfL will probably ban everyone except buses, bicycles and motorbikes from bus lanes.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

If they paid the 'fine' to the driver, it would be a benefit in kind - wonder if it get's 'mentioned' to HMRC !

If all the AL drivers are, as Griffin claims, self-employed then it isn't a benefit in kind. The driver should declare it as income but that's his personal responsibility and Griffin won't give a monkey's whether he does it or not.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Cannot AL not see that if they actually win their right to use the bus lanes like black cabs then TfL will probably ban everyone except buses, bicycles and motorbikes from bus lanes.

Given Griffin's animosity to black cabs he won't care, all he wants is for cabbies not to have any commercial advantage over PHVs.

I'd be surprised if his bid to use lanes was rejected, PHVs are already allowed in other cities' bus lanes.

 

[Bromptonaut]

Both statements cannot be correct

and

If I understand correctly they cannot sanction law breaking and give a blanket indemnity. However, if employees are fined they can consider the facts case by case and pay fines for them.