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JNugent[_5_] · July 3rd 14, 04:11 PM posted to cam.transport,uk.transport.london

On 03/07/2014 14:32, Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 08:10:00
on Thu, 3 Jul 2014, remarked:

The part we discussing is "must be booked in advance".

Something shown on all hire cars in Cambridge but not in London. Other
places have clearer/larger signs than Cambridge.

But when it's 2am and raining and you are trying to get home, who will
remember to look for such a sign?

The concept of "law abiding criminals" rears its head. If someone is
prepared to run an unlicenced minicab, won't they also neglect to put up
the lawfully required sign telling their potential customers not to get
into it?

The only answer that works is tell people that they should only ever
book such cars in advance, and hence be more assured that it's not an
unlicenced one (with all the associated risks).

"Unlicensed minicabs" is a strawman. There are a few knocking about, I'm
sure, but not as many as people think.

The context is very handy for use as a bogeyman by the real offenders:
licensed minicab drivers who unlawfully ply for hire on the streets (and
that's the majority of them).