Remember this breaking news last weekend ??

 The Hammers down at Hammerstone.

Little tip from a source inside Hammerstone Rd. Bums are twitching in there.

Hammerstone Rd is to be closed down. Wait ! Do not get too excited. The unit is to be re-located at the old Police Unit, Openshaw. The unit behind Smithfield Market where "India 99"

the Police helicopter was based.

This news comes as we await the draft bill from the Law Commission. The size of the new Openshaw operation may be tailored to reflect the bill's contents. For instance there are
OVER twice as many PH vehicles and Drivers, as there are Hackneys. It follows that when, not if, the National PH Licence comes into force, two thirds of the units workload and exorbitant revenue raising will also disappear. It does not take a huge amount of intellect to suggest that in that case, two out of every three wage takers can go as well.

I use the word 'wage takers' instead of wage earners, because in my experience most of the licensing staff are takers, not earners.

As I say, bums are squeaking.

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Well it would appear massive changes are also due elsewhere. 

This appeared on Taxileaks.blogspot today. Please note the following, indicates Deloitte are making moves on behalf of the Carlyle Group, owners of Addison Lee.

The big boys are making moves, be very alert, bigger news will follow very shortly and it will NOT be good.  Bookmark www.taxileaks.blogspot.co.uk

Make it your second port of call daily, after here of course. 

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  Monday's Secret Meeting At TfL Could Split Taxi and Private Hire.

I have information from a number of different sources, that on Monday there is to be a meeting to discuss the future of Taxi and Private hire licensing, with the possible break away of LTPH from TfL and eventual split up of Taxis and Private hire.

This may come as news to most, but certain members of the UTG have already been consulted (they just haven't told any of their members yet).

It seems the whole question of LTPH's effectiveness as a licensing authority within TfL has been bought into question by...you guessed it... Private Hire.

It is believed that after the appraisal of LTPH, Deloitte, the advisors to the buyers of Addison Lee, the Carlyle Group, have extended their appraisal from LTPH to TFL.

I have also been reliably informed that Deloitte seem to think there is too much duplication, etc and are advising a massive shake-up. TESSA I'm told, have held a number of meetings concerning the recommendations and have also been in consultation with some of the trade representative groups.

The questions we must be asking is:
Why now?
Why pre Law Commission?
What are the recommendations?
Who is behind these recommendations?
Are PH to have their own licensing authority?
Are they getting us ready for major change?

The one thing you can be sure of is, this is never going to be in our favour.

Can you see them tightening up the process of obtaining a PH licence?
Can you see them enforcing the laws regarding illegally plying for hire and touting?
Can you see them making PH more responsible for the actions of staff at satellite offices?

This could be a perfect opportunity to set up a branch of the Transport Police to take over licensing and enforcement of Taxis and Private Hire. After all, their warranted officers have the power of arrest.

This would be the most logical step forward, but as we know TfL and the Mayor's office don't do Logic.
Money will always rule the day and the new owners of Addison Lee have bundles.
As we have said many times before

FOLLOW THE MONEY.

More news about the meeting as and when we get it.

Bolton, Bust up.

CLEAR-the-air talks between drivers and the town’s biggest private hire operator over taxi fares descended into chaos with police being called.

Metro bosses met hundreds of drivers at the Excellency banqueting suite in Lower Bridgeman Street on Tuesday night.

But as the meeting drew to a close, with a vote over higher fares, a scuffle broke out with chairs also allegedly being thrown.

Nick Astley, Metro owner, said: "We arranged the meeting, providing food and drinks for drivers, to resolve issues they face.

"It is with regret that I and Norma Astley feel the need to publicly apologise to the Excellency and its customers for the disgraceful behaviour by a handful of the 250 drivers.

"The meeting started in an optimistic and well-organised manner but very quickly got out of control when one driver instigated unrest amongst the others, which resulted in one of the drivers lunging a chair towards the table where Norma was sitting.

"Further fighting broke out with more chairs thrown. The meeting was then disbanded."

Usman Ahmed, a spokesman for Bolton Private Hire Association, said there were about 300 drivers at the meeting. He added: "Drivers were asked to indicate their opinion on higher fares by standing on one side of the hall or the other.

"Hundreds stood on the association’s side, saying they wanted the fares increased. Only about 20 people stood on the other side in favour of Metro.

"Negotiations were then held off-microphone between Metro and the association. Just as an agreement was to be read out, a couple of men got on the stage and started shouting and swearing through the microphone. Then fighting broke out.

"So the decision was never read out.

"Now we’re holding talks again."

Mr Astley Metro had also given free rental periods to forge better working relationships with drivers.


http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/10643332.Furious_taxi_drivers__fight_and_throw
_chairs__as_Metro_fare_row_talks_descend_into_chaos/

LIVERPOOL'S first purpose-built taxi "hub" complete with late-night marshalls and registered security staff, opens this weekend in Duke Street.

The idea is to give passengers "a safe and comfortable alternative" to queuing on city centre ranks, flagging black cabs down on the street, or waiting in doorways for other private hire taxis to arrive, especially after dark.

City private hire operator Alpha Cars is behind the scheme, which it says has the backing of Merseyside Police. It has converted the Victorian Wilson's Building, near to the junction with Hanover Street, into a booking station and waiting lounge.
 Alpha owner James Bradley said: "It is amazing it has taken so long for a major city like Liverpool to have a facility such as this.

 We take bus and train stations for granted, but no thought has been given to a purpose-built taxi station, until now. Liverpool has been crying out for such a facility."

A GPS system will be used to dispatch the firm's 400-strong fleet to the station and a special lay-by has been created at the front door of the building.



James BradleyAdded Mr Bradley: "It will also make a major contribution to greener transport by introducing a central pick-up point, reducing the number of cars circulating in and around the city centre."

He said: "Before we embarked on this project we looked very carefully at what was needed and the best location. I have been working on this scheme for some years in response to requests from passengers, and particularly female customers, who want, and deserve, a safe and secure environment. "

Mr Bradley's planning consultant and former Liverpool planning officer, Steve Chapman, Managing Director of Liverpool-based Devaplan Ltd said: "The council's own Unitary Development Plan policies recognise the importance of encouraging the provision of taxi facilities to serve the city centre. I'm sure this operation will set a new high standard in taxi facilities."

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A ROW has developed after a holidaymaker complained the taxi he booked could not bring his family home from Manchester Airport.
Shaun Pimblett, from Poolstock, had to pay more than £80 for a taxi back to Wigan after returning from a holiday in the Spanish resort of Salou with his wife Dawn Taylor and 13-year-old son Aaron.

Mr Pimblett claims he booked a private hire car with Blue Star Taxis, but had to wait more than half an hour for the driver to arrive and find them.

When the car turned up the family’s luggage could not fit in the boot and the driver then left the airport, leaving them stranded.

However, the company has launched a vigorous defence of the driver, refuting the allegations concerning his conduct and saying the family were given the option to place the spare case on the front seat, which was refused.

Mr Pimblett, 40, said: "When we got out of the airport there was no sign of the taxi. We were sent a text message saying it had set off and another when it arrived, but it took a while for the driver to find us.

"We tried removing the parcel shelf from the boot but the case still wouldn’t go. We said we will have to phone head office and he got a ticket and left us, which left my wife and son both very upset.

"It cost me £87 for a taxi but I just had to get my family home. We had been up early to check out of our room then spent most of the day hanging around waiting to come back.

"I’ve never had any problems with taxi firms before but I was really annoyed and feel what happened was totally unacceptable."

However, Blue Star has disputed Mr Pimblett’s version of events, saying the family had booked a saloon car rather than a slightly more expensive estate, which would have comfortably taken all their luggage.

The firm also strongly refuted Mr Pimblett’s allegations about the driver’s conduct towards them, and advised any customers who felt issues could not be resolved to speak to Taxi Licensing and Trading Standards.

Company director Peter Bailey said: "The driver has been with us for several years and we’ve never had any complaints about his driving, attitude or manner towards customers. As far as I am aware he explained the situation to the customer before he left the airport.

"The customer had booked a saloon car and when we sent it he couldn’t find all the cases in. The driver said he could put one on the front seat and the customer refused, which meant there was nothing the driver could do and he had to come away.

"We would have sent an estate car if he had booked one. I believe he rang and spoke to us, but we weren’t able to come to a conclusion.

"I have spoken to the office staff and the driver as we take all complaints extremely seriously, and I am quite happy they acted in a professional way."

Mr Pimblett said he has now made a complaint to the taxi licensing department at Wigan Town Hall.

 A private hire taxi driver has been ordered to pay a grand for illegally trying to pick up passengers in the city centre.

Ajaz Khan, aged 33 and from Rochdale, was fined £250 for plying for hire and £500 for driving with no insurance with £250 costs after he pleaded guilty to both offences at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on August 14.

It is illegal for private hire drivers to pick up passengers who flag them down on the street, and doing so automatically means they have no insurance, as all journeys taken in private hire cars must be pre booked through the operator.

Khan, who changed his plea from not guilty during the hearing, was also given six penalty points on his driving licence.

Two Manchester City Council licensing enforcement officers, who were working in the city centre as part of an operation to stop illegal taxi drivers, got into Khan’s car on Deansgate just before midnight on June 14.

He agreed to take them to Oldham before they announced themselves as City Council officers.

The driver, who works for a Rochdale private hire company, admitted at the time that he had dropped off a fare in Middleton and had driven to the city centre to find more work.

Councillor Nigel Murphy, Manchester City Council’s executive member for the environment, said: “Anyone who visits the city centre, especially during nights out, should be aware they are not insured if they hail a private hire car on the street.

“We regard illegal ply for hire as a serious offence and where we have the necessary evidence will prosecute unscrupulous drivers who try to make extra money with no regard for their passengers’ safety. We have officers working outside of office hours undertaking a variety of different approaches to try and ensure that public safety isn’t compromised by illegal activities of taxi drivers and that all taxis are well maintained and safe.”
source: Manchester Gazzette.
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Addisson Lee, caught out by Twitter.

Driver accused of ordering ‘dirty’ gay men out of taxi

Minicab firm investigates after alleged reaction to passengers holding hands is posted on Twitter

A driver with major minicab firm Addison Lee has been suspended while he is investigated for allegedly kicking out a gay couple from his cab after they held hands.

The men were being driven home  by the driver who allegedly called them “dirty” before he ordered them to get out of the taxi. The driver was suspended after one of the passengers, Liam Kelly, wrote about the incident on Wednesday in a post on Twitter, which led to the firm receiving a  string  of angry messages.

The driver was soon identified from a photo of his taxi’s number plate, which Mr Kelly also posted. He alleged in a Tweet: “Just been ejected from an @AddisonLeeCabs taxi for being gay. Thanks for the homophobic treatment.” In another Tweet he said: “My BF and I got into a taxi from G-A-Y Late. Started holding hands and were told to get out, and called dirty.”

Later he wrote: “Thank you to everyone for your messages of support, they mean a lot. We’re home now, after a very nice black taxi journey.”

Ben Summerskill, chief executive of the LGBT rights charity Stonewall, said: “On the face of it this is a clear breach of the Equality Act and it’s very disturbing. There’s no evidence that these two men were doing anything different to what many other loving couples do in the back of cabs.

“If the facts are as proved, these two young men are entitled to go to the county courts.”

He added: “This gives a very disturbing message to lots of people who come to London, both to work and as tourists, who imagine that it’s a twenty-first century metropolis, and that they’ll be treated accordingly.”

Twitter users were quick to condemn the company for the driver’s treatment of the couple, with many pledging to stop using the service altogether. Jo Little-King posted: “Looks like I won’t be getting a contract with @AddisonLeeCabs for my day-job business after all,” while Phil Holmes wrote: “Sigh, don’t need to go to Russia 4 homophobia”.

An Addison Lee spokeswoman said: “We are aware of an incident involving an Addison Lee vehicle in London last night. This incident is being investigated thoroughly, and the driver has been suspended from duty while the investigation takes place. We are also in contact with the customer to understand more about what happened.

“Addison Lee does not tolerate any form of discrimination. We pride ourselves in delivering the highest possible level of professional service, and we take matters like this very seriously.”

The case echoes one in Portland, Oregon, last month, where a lesbian couple were evicted from a taxi on a motorway late at night. That driver lost his licence today, following an investigation into the incident.

This is not the first time that Addison Lee, London’s biggest private hire firm, has been caught up in controversy. Last year its chairman John Griffin published a column in his company’s magazine, Add Lib, which implied that running over cyclists might be acceptable because they were untrained beginners.

Griffin also urged his 3,500 drivers to flout the law and drive in bus lanes, putting cyclists at risk. The call to arms sparked a two year court battle for access to the lanes.

The Independent.
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Blackpool, Price war blamed for attacks.

Taxi chiefs in Blackpool today told how cabbies have been attacked by angry passengers after being accused of ripping them off.

Hackney carriage drivers claim cut price fares introduced by some private hire firms has led to anger from some passengers.

And they today called on licensing chiefs to put an end to the two-tier pricing structure currently operating in Blackpool.

Hackney carriage drivers who stick to the council-imposed tariff rather than discounting their fares have been accused of overcharging and have faced abuse as a result.

The issue has arisen because while independent Hackney carriage drivers stick to the tariff set by the council, private hire companies have introduced discounted rates.

It has also meant visitors are sometimes charged more than locals because they are more likely to flag a Hackney carriage down on the street than ring a private hire firm.

Now the Blackpool Licensed Taxi Operators’ Association (BLOTA) claims at least two drivers have been assaulted by angry passengers in the past fortnight - and wants action to address the issue.

Bill Lewtas, of BLOTA, said: “It is a matter of concern to us that certain taxi and private hire companies have chosen to implement different tariffs. This leads to confusion, drivers have been abused and in some cases it has led to violence.

“Our view is that all taxis and private hire vehicles should operate the same tariff as they do in many other local authorities.

“And if some want to offer discount for regular customers (only those that phone for a vehicle) then that is up to them.”

Bispham-based cabbie David Palmer was threatened last month by a passenger who complained about the fare.

He said: “I picked someone up from outside the Counting House in Talbot Square and took them to their hotel just past the Pleasure Beach.

“He was complaining about the fare and said he had got another taxi into town and the fare was a lot less.

“I told him the meter was calibrated to the fares set by the council and if other companies wanted to under-cut that, that’s up to them.

“After I dropped him off, he came at me and tried to punch me but I was able to drive off.

“But drivers are getting it in the neck from passengers who assume they are getting ripped off. It’s bad for tourism as well if people think this. I’ve put a CCTV camera in my cab now as a result of this incident, but my worry is a driver is going to get seriously hurt.”

A report to councillors on Blackpool Council, who are due to discuss the issue next week, says: “Customers do not understand the difference in fare structures and instead suspect the independents of over-charging.

“This can place drivers at risk of verbal abuse and violence.” All Hackney and private hire vehicles are fitted with meters calibrated to a tariff set by Blackpool Council.

But recently private hire companies have moved away from the council tariff and calibrated their meters to their own company tariff in order to offer a discounted rate.

Operators are allowed to set fares below the council-set rate, but are forbidden from exceeding it.

C Cabs has reduced its opening price from £2.60, which is the council-set rate, to £2, while Bispham-based Blacktax also charge a lower rate. They say it is in response to tough economic conditions.

Dee Grant, a director of C Cabs, said: “We are in a recession and people are looking for savings everywhere so if we can offer a discount to local people, that is what matters to us. If the Hackneys want to compete, there is nothing to stop them offering discounts too.”

Blackpool’s chairman of licensing Coun Norman Hardy said by law the council could only set a maximum rate.

He said: “I understand the concerns of the Hackney cab drivers because in the main they are individual operators, while there are a number of companies that have private hire and Hackneys and because of their size, they can offer reduced rates.

“It concerns me drivers are being threatened.”

In a bid to resolve the issue, Blackpool Council is considering making it a condition of all licences that drivers display a sign to explain differences in
tariffs.
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Sheffield, Pervert looses Licence.
 
A married taxi driver has been given a community sentence for groping a female passenger - and told his ‘attitude towards women’ needs to change.

Shaukat Khan, aged 36, made comments to the 21-year-old woman and touched her during a fare to the Northern General Hospital.

Handing him a three-year community order and ordering him to attend a sex offenders’ course, Judge Michael Murphy QC said legal guidelines prevented him from jailing Khan.

But he said: “There is no such thing as sexual touching that is not serious.

“What makes this all the more serious is the fact you were a taxi driver and she was a passenger. A passenger is entitled to feel safe in a taxi.

“You have lost your job as a result and that is probably all to the good. You should not be driving when you have the attitude you displayed that night.

“Because of the sentencing guidelines I can’t deal with you so you lose your liberty.

“But your attitude towards women and behaviour like this need to be challenged and need to be re-directed 180 degrees.”

Ian West, prosecuting, said Khan, of Malton Street, Pitsmoor, was working for City Taxis when he picked up the woman at 8pm on Saturday, July 28, last year.

He talked ‘inappropriately’ and made a sexual remark before quizzing her about her sex life.

While adjusting the taxi computer, Khan touched her leg twice, then touched her bottom as she got out of the cab.

“She felt embarrassed and violated,” said Mr West.

Sukdev Garcha, defending, said Khan was a family man and well-respected in his community.

He said his licence had been suspended and would eventually be revoked and it was unlikely he would work as a taxi driver again.
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 Surrey, Reigate

A TAXI driver who left a girl by the roadside has been dismissed by his firm.

After collecting the girl from Horley on Saturday night, the driver got stuck in the roadworks south of Reigate and told her it would cost more money to go around. When the girl said she didn't have more money, he left her.

The girl's father Stuart Radford posted a furious message on Facebook which was shared by hundreds of people within a few hours.

Taxi firm Roadrunners UK, which employed the driver, contacted Mr Radford and apologised to him before returning the money his daughter had paid. Kevin Rampersad, of Roadrunners UK, confirmed the driver in question no longer works for the company.

Lancaster.

The headache of having to pay extra for taxi fares on bank holidays and early in the morning could soon be over.

Hackney Carriage drivers in Lancaster have voted to scrap “time-and-a-half” fares on bank holidays (except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day), and only charge the extra between midnight and 5am, rather than 7am.

The change comes at the same time as a 10p increase per mile on Hackney Carriage journeys in Lancaster.

Andy Kay, chairman of the Lancaster City Hackney Proprietors Association, said: “The 10p rise per mile takes into account the increase in driving costs.

“Previously time-and-a-half fares ran until 7am, but we hope to give shift workers an easier ride by reducing the time frame that this applies to.

“We’re also hoping to appeal to people who would not normally use a taxi on bank holidays.”

A city council spokesman said: “The issue of fares will be reconsidered by the Licensing Regulatory Committee at a meeting on August 27.”

Comment:  At last someone has a good idea, on how to recover work from PH cars.

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Nuneaton

A Taxi driver who ran over a drunken Nuneaton man he had just taken home failed to tell paramedics what had actually happened.

If he had done so, victim Ian Smith would have received treatment in time which probably would have saved his life, a judge has heard.

Following 52-year-old Mr Smith’s death, taxi driver Peter Southall was charged with manslaughter, which he denied.

But on what was to have been the first day of his trial at the Crown Court in Leamington, Southall pleaded guilty to an alternative offence of causing death by careless driving.

Southall, 58, of Edinburgh Road, Camp Hill, Nuneaton, was sentenced to 21 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months, ordered to do 210 hours of unpaid work and banned from driving for two years.

Prosecutor Graham Reeds said that Southall, a taxi driver for Arrow Taxis in Nuneaton, had collected Mr Smith from the Royal Oak pub in October 2011. Regular customer Mr Smith was known by taxi controllers to be often drunk.

Mr Smith got out at his home in Burnaby Close, Stockingford, as Southall began to turn his taxi around. As he drove away he commented over his radio to his controller about how drunk Mr Smith was.

Mr Reeds said: “Unknown to the defendant, but captured by a CCTV camera on a neighbour’s driveway, while he was manoeuvring Mr Smith fell over backwards into the road.

"He hit the back of his head on the road surface and had been knocked out.” As Southall drove out at about 6mph he ran over the prone body, causing serious internal injuries – possibly because he was on his radio at the time.

When paramedics arrived, Southall said Mr Smith had fallen, but not that he had driven over him. He was taken to University Hospital where the court heard he was treated as a head injury case not a trauma patient.

Mr Reeds explained: “That would have resulted in him going to theatre and in that time frame, there is a very good statistical chance that he would have been saved. As it was, Mr Smith’s injuries were not noticed.”

He later suffered a heart attack, when staff discovered he had suffered serious abdominal and pelvic injuries. Despite surgery, he later died in intensive care.

Mr Reeds said had Southall been frank with paramedics, Mr Smith would have been handed over straight away to a trauma team ‘which would have given them a very good chance of saving his life.’

Giving evidence, Southall, an Arrow driver for 15 years after 17 years as a milkman, told the court he remembered his vehicle ‘lifting’ but claimed he did not realise he had driven over Mr Smith.

But Judge Richard Griffith-Jones said: “It was irresponsible not to give a full history to the ambulance crew.”

Jonas Hankin, defending, who said Southall will lose his livelihood after losing his licence, argued it was not just his irresponsibility which led to Mr Smith’s tragic death, but ‘the very poor standard of care from start to finish by the West Midlands Ambulance Service and the local NHS Trust’.

Sentencing Southall, the judge told him he had had a duty to be “vigilant”, adding: “I accept you simply did not see him....you drove over his prone figure with catastrophic consequences.”

Rosendale Hackneys, working as PH cars in other Manchester.

Burnley is the nearest Town to Rawtenstall, the administrative Town of Rosendale.

Burnley has 41 Hacks and 287 PH Cars. A total of 328 vehicles. Burnleys population is 75000 (2001 census.).

Burnley has a ratio of 229 head of population for each licensed vehicle in the Town.

Rawtenstall has a population of 22000, (2001 Census). Rawtenstall's population, at the same ratio as Burnley, could be served by 96 licensed vehicles.

Rawtenstall has at least 780 licensed vehicles. (775 HC plus 5PH).

Why so many ? Obviously 88% of Rosendale vehicles do not work there.

This week Rosendale Hackney no 775, was pictured working on Supa Cars, South Manchester, this plate was issued on 5 August, there may be even more now.

Manchester has 1090 hackneys, very soon, there will be more out of Town hackney's working in this City, than Manchester Licensed hacks.

This may be very close already when we factor in all the other vehicles (from 9 other authorities) already working in the City.

 Failsworth. Two cars and taxi set alight

POLICE are investigating after two cars and a taxi were deliberately set alight in separate attacks in Oldham overnight. 

The first incident occurred shortly after 9pm with crews from Oldham attending Acre Lane, Derker, where a Citroen Saxo was on fire. 

The blaze burned through the handbrake which caused the car to roll into a nearby industrial unit. 

A taxi on Oldham Road, Failsworth, was also targeted in a suspected arson attack shortly after 1am. 

Firefighters from Hollins were called to the fire, which had been started while the driver had returned to the office outside the taxi rank. 

The taxi was badly damaged and police are currently investigating. 

Finally, a Range Rover parked on Stoneswood Road, Delph, was also set alight at 4am. 

No-one was injured in any of the attacks and it is not believed that the incidents are connected.

http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/8/news-headlines/81982/two-cars-and-taxi-set-alight?

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ABERYSTWYTH RNLI want to thank two taxi drivers who helped during a rescue that saw a fund-raising day for crews turn into a race to save four young surfers stranded out to sea off Llanrhystud.

Volunteer crew members were collecting money for the lifeboat station as part of the annual RNLI Flag Day collection on Saturday at Great Darkgate Street when they received the call.
With coastguards reporting that the quartet of teenagers were unable to get back to shore, crew members, fully kitted up, made their way to the station to launch.

Two quick-thinking and helpful cabbies - seeing the commotion - gave crew members a free ride to the lifeboat station - cutting vital minutes off the time it took to save the youngsters who had blown over a mile out to sea.

Alerted at just after 2.30pm after a family friend called for help, lifeboat crews raced to the youngsters, who had drifted one mile north after being caught in a rip current.
Cold, tired and unable to get back to shore, the teenagers had sensibly tied themselves together to await rescue.

After being picked up by the lifeboat, the youngsters were taken to Bronglais to be checked over. No injuries were reported.An Aberystwyth RNLI spokesman said:

“The lifeboat crew were collecting as part of the Lifeboat Flag Day and Sea 2 Shore event, when the pagers went off.

“Whilst running from Bank Square to the Lifeboat station, already wearing their dry suits and equipment, they were assisted by two taxi drivers, who drove the crew to the boathouse, greatly speeding up the time it took to rescue the four boys, and no doubt helping to save their lives.

TUES 20 August.
Runaway cab jumps curb near Rockefeller Center, severs young British tourist's foot as Dr. Oz rushes to help in midtown

Dr. Oz, who has an office nearby, rushed to the woman's side as a passerby fashions a tourniquet and a vendor puts her foot on ice after the taxi plows into the crowd Tuesday morning at 49th St. and Sixth Ave.

There was horror in midtown Manhattan on Tuesday when a runaway taxi cab jumped a curb and plowed into a pack of pedestrians, pinning a British tourist whose left foot was severed.

Within seconds a union plumber named David Justino teamed up with celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz, better known as Dr. Oz, to rescue the young woman.

“Her left leg was severed off, the other was mangled,” said Justino, who used his belt as a tourniquet to stop the woman from bleeding to death.

Justino called the victim, who police said is 23 and visiting from Britain, is a “strong girl, a brave girl.”

“She was conscious the whole time, the poor thing,” he said. “I wished she would have passed out.”

Oz said “Dave the Plumber” may have her life.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/cab-jumps-curb-midtown-hits-woman-reports-article-1.1431690

A taxi driver has told how he chauffeured a ‘relaxed and happy’ Michaella McCollum Connolly and Melissa Reid around Lima as they spent hundreds of pounds on shoes, clothes and jewellery in a three-day spree.

Martin Huaroto works for the hotel where the girls stayed. He told The Mail on Sunday they did not seem anxious at the prospect of being forced to be drug mules and even found time for a once-in-a-lifetime sightseeing trip.

The driver, 45, employed by the Hotel San Augustin Colonial, said: ‘The girls arrived in Peru and immediately got a flight to Cusco where they spent two days taking in the  awe-inspiring sights of the Andes.

‘When they got back they checked into the hotel and told the staff all about their trip. They said they had a fantastic time and seemed incredibly relaxed and happy – not at all as if they had the world on their shoulders.

‘They hired me for three days and I took them on expensive shopping trips where they came back loaded with bags.

‘We went to the Plaza de Armas and Larcomar – both famous for their high-end shops. When they returned they were carrying so many bags it was difficult to get them into the car.

‘There were shoes and lots of clothes and some jewellery. They stuck together the whole time and there were no other men with them, just like regular holidaymakers.

‘I thought they must be really spoilt because they bought so much. When I saw them on the news I could not believe it – they had gone from being on expensive shopping trips in my cab to holed up in a dirty cell. 

‘It’s very common for girls to be talked into coming to Peru by flash gangsters. They are promised free drugs, money, a holiday and accommodation. When they get caught out the world comes from beneath them.’ 

A source at the police station said: ‘The cells are a very difficult place to be, even for hardened criminals, so it can tell you a lot.

‘Michaella and Melissa have been laughing, and even singing songs like You’re Just Too Good To Be True. It’s the same old story we have heard a million times. 

‘They were just stupid, allowed themselves to get in a situation and got caught. Now they have to deal with the consequences.’

---------------------------------


A POLICE officer has been summonsed to appear in court for dangerous driving after a crash in Walkden.

A Ford Focus police car responding to an emergency call crashed into a silver Mercedes private hire taxi in Manchester Road, Walkden, just after 3am on New Year’s Day.

Emergency services were called and firefighters had to cut off the roof of the police car to get to the three male police officers inside.

The officers, all PCs, were injured and taken to Salford Royal Hospital.


A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: “A man has been summonsed for dangerous driving following a collision between a police car and a taxi.

“Warren Lewin, aged 30, from Trafford, a serving PC with GMP, has been summonsed for two offences of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

“He is due to appear before Preston Crown Court on November 5.”

Barrow taxi driver charged with sexual assault
 A Taxi driver has been charged with sexually assaulting a pensioner.

Darren Muir, 43, of Lowther Crescent, Walney, did not enter pleas to the charge when he appeared before Furness Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

He is charged with sexual assault on June 15 and knowingly trespassing on premises with the intent to commit a relevant sexual offence on June 18.

The allegations involve a 73-year-old woman.

The case was adjourned to Preston Crown Court until August 30.


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New York, follow the money.

Campaign contributions from taxi and livery car companies have flowed into mayoral candidates' coffers in recent weeks, as an industry that has clashed repeatedly with the Bloomberg administration over regulation and new technology tries to secure its standing with the next administration.


The contributions reflect the fault lines of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's most controversial changes in the way passengers pay for a ride around the city, leaders of taxi and livery companies said. And they demonstrate how they are jockeying to make sure the next mayor understands their needs.

Some liveries, which operate from bases and respond to calls for customers requesting rides, have thrown money and support behind former Comptroller Bill Thompson. He supports the recently launched borough taxi program allowing livery cars to accept street-hail customers outside Manhattan's central business district.
That includes several contributions that came after Mr. Thompson's public scrap in July with former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, who opposes the launch of the so-called borough taxis. Since joining the mayoral race, Mr. Weiner has received more than $35,000 in contributions from people directly employed in the industry—largely with the yellow cab companies that fought the program. Mr. Thompson has received nearly $50,000, mainly from the livery industry.
A Thompson spokeswoman, Dani Lever, said the candidate "is proud to fight for the millions of outer borough New Yorkers who won the same right to hail a cab as people in Midtown Manhattan."
Mr. Weiner said: "It should come as no surprise that people who agree with my positions would donate to me."

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio has taken in more than $120,000 in contributions from individuals linked to the yellow cab industry, much of it early in his campaign, according to city campaign finance records. Mr. de Blasio, once a supporter of the borough taxi plan, unsuccessfully tried to block it in court, on the grounds that the administration improperly bypassed the City Council to get it passed.
It is common in mayoral elections for participants in the vehicle and other industries to send money to candidates. In the current race, Council Speaker Christine Quinn has taken in at least $23,000 from the industry, campaign records show.
A spokesman for Ms. Quinn said the borough taxi plan would help city residents, and said it was slated to raise $300 million in next year's city budget, through the auction of new taxi medallions. The council, under Ms. Quinn's leadership, did not pass the borough taxi plan, and it was eventually created via state legislation. The spokesman criticized Mr. de Blasio for reversing his position and suing to stop the plan.
A de Blasio spokesman said that his objection had been to the process by which the state law was passed to allow street hails, not to the underlying program. Mr. de Blasio wouldn't seek to roll back the program, the spokesman said.
Mr. Bloomberg's changes to the vehicle industries in the city have infuriated its various factions, though even some of his most vigorous opponents have supported other changes. "The Bloomberg era has been a hostile era for the taxi industry," said Ethan Gerber, executive director of the Greater New York Taxi Association, which has battled the administration on several key initiatives.

                           

David Yassky, chairman of the Taxi and Limousine Commission, said the regulators have worked to improve services for passengers, while taking the concerns of the industry into account with each of their changes.
"I think taxi and car service passengers have benefited enormously from this administration's willingness to act independently and without bowing to the special interests," he said.
Mr. Bloomberg battled with cab drivers over his mandate that all cabs take credit cards, using new terminals linked to taximeters that helped boost the Taxi and Limousine Commission's data-collection efforts.
A bid to let cabs begin using smartphone apps to secure customers has launched, with limits, over the objections of some of the same livery drivers who have blessed the borough taxis.
Some parts of the industry have been more closely aligned with Mr. Bloomberg's goals. "He understood the need of residents of New York City because he actually said 'I need everybody to have access,'" said Cira Angeles, whose family runs Riverside Radio Dispatch, a livery business, referring to the borough taxi law. Ms. Angeles bundled $5,175 in contributions for Mr. Thompson in late July.   

A Keighley taxi boss has blasted moves to relax cab licensing conditions in the district.

Councillors have backed various changes, including slashing the minimum age for drivers from 21 to 18.
The measures would also allow the use of vehicles up to ten years old, instead of the current eight.

 Stuart Hastings, owner of Metro Taxis in Church Street, described the proposals as “madness”. “A taxi should be as new as possible, and after five years, off the road,” he said. “The average age of our vehicles is between two-and-a-half and three years, and we service them regularly and look after them properly. The car has got to be fit for purpose and that should be the operator’s responsibility, even if the driver owns the vehicle. 

 “These changes will be bad for the safety of customers and are to look after taxi drivers rather than the passenger. “If anything, I don’t think procedures are strict enough. The industry should be policed more. If some people knew what they were riding around in, they wouldn’t get in the car.”

A recent Bradford Council report revealed four out of ten cabs in the district were failing random vehicle checks. And it highlighted a quarter of taxis and minicabs were not being produced for tests.

 The changes are also opposed by Worth Valley councillor Glen Miller, leader of the Conservative group on the council.  He said reducing the minimum age for a driver to 18 would be “irresponsible towards the customers”.

“It is common knowledge young drivers have significantly more accidents than people who have been driving for a number of years,” he added.

 But the new measures are welcomed by Keighley Central Labour councillor Abid Hussain. He said: “It is a very difficult time for taxi businesses at the moment because of the recession. This is a good change, and means more people have the facilities and opportunity to run their own business.”

Nissan working 23 hours a day, in Mexico, to launch NV200.

http://jalopnik.com/new-yorks-new-taxi-cabs-will-charge-your-phones-for-yo-1148957541


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Three men were injured in a serious crash between a taxi and a van on the M62 motorway.

It happened at around 5.40pm yesterday (Tuesday) at junction 22 of the eastbound carriageway near Scammonden, Huddersfield.

A 34-year-old man travelling in the Skoda Octavia taxi sustained serious injuries to his legs and was taken to Leeds General Infirmary by Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The 36-year-old male taxi driver was taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary where he was treated for minor injuries.

The 52-year-old man driving the Mercedes Sprinter van was treated for minor injuries.
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A parking battle has erupted among taxi and lorry drivers in Cambridge, prompting police to step in.

Taxi drivers have clashed with delivery workers over the city centre rank in Sidney Street, triggering late-night ‘blockades’.

Delivery lorries are parking up on the rank, leaving taxis without a place to stop to pick up fares.

Paul Bradley, of Cambridge Hackney Carriage Association, told the News: “We are staging a mini-protest but we are not inconveniencing the public regarding our night time rank on Sidney Street. We have put up for weeks with work vehicles for shops illegally parking and blocking the taxi rank – 40ft lorries have started blocking it up for a few weeks every night.

“This same problem happened last year causing a massive problem with several altercations between drivers and workers and is set to happen again, and as such taxis are staying on ranks spaced out so they can’t do this as the work vehicles are able to stop elsewhere.”

But the taxi drivers claim they are being “ignored” by police.

Mr Bradley said: “It is a criminal offence to park or stop on a rank except for taxis but we are ignored by police and traffic wardens and anyone else we speak to about this.

“Private cars enter, speed and park illegally in this pedestrian zone unchecked. The police are very quick to ask us to move or we get a ticket when we can’t get on a rank.”

The Cambridge Hackney Carriage Association is a new group formed “out of frustration of not being listened to by anyone,” Mr Bradley said.

But Cambridge’s city centre policing team have now taken action.

A police spokesman said: “We are aware of the issue and spoke to drivers at the location on Monday night. We also issued Fixed Penalty Notices for parking offences committed by those unlawfully using a taxi rank.

“We have passed details of the incident onto the city centre management team so they can assist in the resolution of the problem.”

A county council spokesman said: “We enforce parking in the city centre but have received no complaints about lorries parking in the taxi rank areas of Sidney Street in the evening. We will now give it extra attention.”

Fifty taxi drivers were fined amid a zero tolerance crackdown on ‘over-ranking’ in St Andrew’s Street amid concerns about cars queuing beyond the end of the taxi rank.

The fines were issued in the campaign early this year
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Sussex police are banning dangerous taxis, limo and buses while ferrying people in Brighton and Hove.

A joint operation between Sussex Police, Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and Hove City Council has seen 43 vehicles stopped in one day.

Some of the vehicles were in such a bad condition that they were immediately prevented from being used to carry passengers.

The vehicles were stopped from 7pm-11pm on Saturday, August 10.

Some of the stopped vehicles had broken headlights, damaged bodywork or were not carrying a driver's badge.

Chief Inspector Natalie Moloney said: "Every person who gets into a taxi or private hire vehicle should feel safe in the knowledge that they are not being put in danger. We will continue to work closely with other agencies to keep all road users as safe as possible."

Blueline, Northumberland.

A 'Taxi' driver academy that takes recruits from the job centre and into the cab within weeks has been hailed a success.

Blueline 'Taxis' has helped 19 drivers qualify for a career on the roads, with a further 21 expected to follow later this year.

The Wallsend-based firm launched the academy in partnership Northumberland College and a number of training providers, with recruits studying nine units in a three-week course covering areas such as customer service and route knowledge.

Once students have completed a series of written assessments, they graduate with a nationally recognised qualification, and bosses say they now want to build on the academy's success by opening a purpose-built training centre in Newcastle.

Ian Shanks, Blueline managing director, said: “We wanted to set something up that would not just give people a qualification but the guarantee of work.

“That’s why we partnered the college because we want to see people move away from welfare and into work with no cost at all to the participants.”

 Comment; you could not do this in Manchester, it takes a minimum of 5 months to get a badge here. Well to be honest, it takes 3 months to get an answer to an Email. That requires the help of an outside agency (Ombudsman)

Fairfield St/Baring St Rank.

The following pictures were taken today 13 August at 10.30am.

The cabs trying to feed onto the Fairfield St rank are forced to stand in the middle of the road.This happens because of the line of cars parked there all day long.

So what you may ask.

 The difference here is that we have paid Manchester Council £23 grand to mark out the rank and the road, to stop this happening. The rank was agreed in the last financial year and the money was taken from our account at that time.

We are now four and a half months into the next year and still nothing has been done. The money has not been returned.

Taxi Reserve
		2011/12	2012/13	Total
Transfer to Reserves
	Security Costs	68,961	78,848	147,809
	Special Event Budget	20,000		20,000
	Surplus on Taxi CC	49,906	320,092	369,998
		138,867	398,940	537,807
Transfer from Reserves
	Special Event Budget	0	20,000	20,000
	Fairfield St. Taxi Rank	0	23,000	23,000
		0	43,000	43,000
	Balance	138,867	355,940	494,807

I suggest that if a commercial organisation had took £23k from somebody and failed to start work Manchester Trading Standards would be taking action against the culprits.

Who helps us when the culprits are the Council themselves. ?

This matter, and others, must be ventilated in the High Court, as soon as possible.

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Taxi firm criticised by rape charity for using picture of a vulnerable-looking woman in its advertising campaign

  The 200,000 promotional postcards say 'Should have used Data Cars'

Lewisham firm insists it merely shows a woman caught out by weather

Rape Crisis: It's a really unfortunate and misguided piece of advertising

 
Anti-rape campaigners today slammed adverts for a minicab firm featuring a vulnerable-looking woman caught in a downpour.

The use of the image on 200,000 promotional postcards which say ‘Should have used Data Cars’ has attracted criticism - but the company insists it merely shows a woman caught out by the weather.

Les Chapman, manager of Data Cars in Lewisham, south-east London, said his inspiration for the campaign came from seeing his teenage daughters coming home from a night out looking drenched.


But Rape Crisis said the advertising was ‘a really unfortunate and misguided piece of advertising’.

Katie Russell from the charity said: ‘The best case scenario, giving the company the benefit of the doubt, is that they're not aware of the associations that the image on this postcard conjures.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2391992/Data-Cars-ad-campaigns-use-vulnerable-woman-image-criticised-rape-charity.html#ixzz2bsmELVuh