Hummer operator appeals against limo impounding

A limo operator has written to Greater Manchester Police after his COIF Hummer H2 limousine was impounded following a Christmas crackdown.

The Hummerzine vehicle operated by Earls Limousines based in Manchester, was inspected and passed by VOSA officials at the Belle Vue Stadium, where traffic officers then enquired into the driver of the limousine.

Police apparently told the driver he was not covered to drive the limousine for hire and reward and the vehicle was impounded by the officers, leaving the operator with a string of pre-Christmas bookings which could not be fulfilled.

Owner, Jason Earl commented; “The driver has a full D Category on his license to drive any PCV vehicle. The Police said this did not cover this type of vehicle as it was a small PCV, requiring a D1 Category on his license. I spoke to the officer and explained he was wrong, but he would not accept this and impounded the vehicle based on this.”

He added; “Whilst we waited at the Police station the following day to recover the vehicle, we met another operator who had also had a vehicle impounded. He had spoken to the DVLA which confirmed that a D Category covers any PCV vehicle.”

Mr Earl has written to the Chief Constable to appeal against the impounding and is attempting to recover £1,500 of costs.

Hummerzine is the first company to be able to obtain a full Certificate of Initial Fitness on any Hummer H2 limousine. The company has apparently spent three years and hundreds of thousands of pounds to be able to provide the conversions.