21-01-09 Limo company fined after VOSA investigation
A new crackdown on dangerous limousine operators has successfully resulted in a Bristol company being prosecuted after its stretch vehicle caught fire with 13 passengers inside.
Go-Stretch Ltd was ordered to pay a total of £5,190 in fines, costs and victim surcharge by North Avon Magistrates after the case was brought by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA).
The driver of the car, 70-year-old Robert Blight, was fined £1,555 and ordered to pay £365 in costs and charges and given six penalty points.
Both the company and the driver were fined for a series of offences, including having no operator’s licence, no certificate of initial fitness, no test certificate, no tachograph and no insurance.
During the hearing the court heard how Ellie Hayes, of Yate, and 12 friends paid £180 to hire the 14-seater vehicle to help celebrate her 21st birthday. But while they were being driven around Bristol the £74,000 vehicle caught fire. Although no-one was injured the vehicle had to be evacuated and fire services were called.
The magistrates were told that the fire fighters had to let the limousine burn out after discovering it was powered by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
The successful prosecution was a result of VOSA’s on-going work to ensure the illegal limo industry works within the law. VOSA’s Chief Operating Officer, Alex Fiddes, said “I am very pleased with the successful outcome of this case, it demonstrates our commitment to ensure road safety for all road-users.”
Last month Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick announced a crackdown on dangerous bus, coach and limousine operators as he launched a consultation on impounding illegally operated Public Service Vehicles (PSVs).
He said:
“Illegal bus, coach and limousine operators put the safety of their passengers and other road users at risk and we are determined to force them off the roads. These proposals will give VOSA new powers to immediately impound vehicles they discover being operated illegally.”
He added that a similar scheme for targeting illegal HGV operators had resulted in a significant fall in the number of illegally operated trucks on the roads.
For media enquiries about VOSA, please contact: Luke Bigwood on 0117 954 3208 or Zita Easton on 0117 954 2561. You can also e-mail press@vosa.gov.uk
Page last updated: 21/01/2009