Another Ubiquitous scheme.

CITY taxis are to become free wifi hot spots after the plan was given the green light by licensing chiefs.

The bill for the service which will provide passengers with free internet access will be paid for by a range of sponsors and leading taxi advertising firm Ubiquitous.

A 15-second advert will be displayed every 15 minutes but passengers will not have to watch the full promo.

It is understood that adult websites and other harmful content will be blocked and cabs offering the service will show an approved blue sticker.

A similar scheme was launched in London back in March with firms such as Microsoft, Heathrow and Styloko footing the bill.

Ubiquitous believe it to be a “win-win” for passengers and drivers as cabbies will also be able to access free wifi.

Drivers have suffered ballooning mobile data charges recently because of the growing popularity of taxi apps such as Hailo and electronic cashless payments.

Ubiquitous director Micky Harris said: “Edinburgh is a key location for brands looking to invest in taxi advertising, and many are keen for us to secure this strategically important city, so we are delighted to receive acknowledgment from Edinburgh’s licensing team that approval has been granted.

“Free wifi is a win-win for all involved – busy people will be able to stay connected more easily, brands will gain kudos for providing a vital service for free and the taxi drivers themselves will also get to hook up to the wifi throughout the day.”

Tony Kenmuir, boss of Capital firm Central Taxis, who has sought to equip his 445-strong fleet with wifi, welcomed the proposal but remained wary of the cost implications.

He said: “I’ve looked into this but the data costs were too much. If they are genuinely providing free unlimited data then I’ll sign up straight away.

“I’m slightly cynical about the cost of it given you’ll have taxi drivers parked up in lay-bys and ranks watching TV and internet on their phones and iPads.

“However, if big companies want to come in and pay for it then I’m sure it will be a success.”

The proposal was passed at yesterday’s sitting of the committee on condition that all applications are submitted prior to the installation of equipment.

Also, the equipment shall not be used to breach the privacy of a passenger nor shall any information or data collected by the equipment be disseminated without the express knowledge and permission of the user.

Committee convener Councillor Gavin Barrie said: “The committee has agreed that wifi technology may be installed in private hire vehicles and taxis licensed by the council, provided that they meet the necessary criteria.

“For the first time, Edinburgh taxi and private hire firms and owners can now apply to have the technology in their vehicles and a number have expressed an interest.”

http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/free-wi-fi-could-be-added-to-city-taxi-fleet-1-3081724
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Burton driver loses licence for McDonalds bust up.

A BURTON taxi driver who used his belt in a drive-through takeaway fracas been handed £300 worth of fines.

Security cameras at McDonalds in Uttoxeter filmed Raheem Hussain pushing a man over, hitting him with the belt and also injuring the victim’s girlfriend.

The couple were in a group complaining that Hussain’s cab was blocking the food ordering counter, Stafford Crown Court heard.

Liz de Oliveira, prosecuting, said the victim, Matthew Shaw suffered a graze to his elbow and a bruised bicep, while his girlfriend Eleanor Chatfield had a cut on her neck.

Hussain, 24, of Burton Road, Branston, was fined £200 after admitting assaulting Mr Shaw causing actual bodily harm, fined £100 for common assault on Miss Chatfield and also ordered to pay £200 towards costs.

He was formally cleared of a charge of affray when the prosecution offered no evidence.

The judge, Recorder David Bright, told him: “This is a case where the court has been assisted by the film and it is obvious that you were, to a large extent, acting in a defensive mode and some of the people gave the appearance they were looking for trouble.

“I don’t think you were the only one misbehaving - I am not making any compensation orders.”

Miss de Oliveira said the trouble started with Hussain’s passengers having a dispute with the cabbie over fares.

Tim Achurch, defending, said Hussain had quite properly called the police when his passengers were refusing to pay the fare.

“It was the group who approached this defendant, who felt threatened, which was why he took up the belt he had in his car.

“There was no intention to cause harm, he didn’t want to be involved in a violent situation, otherwise he would not have called the police.

“One of the effects of this prosecution is that he has lost his taxi licence and now works as a controller.”
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TWO police officers are to be hauled before misconduct meetings after a re-investigation into complaints about the handling of a case involving a taxi driver.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission re-investigated the process which led to Davinder Sandhu, from Maidenhead, being charged for assaulting two women outside Fredrick’s Hotel in Shoppenhangers Road after dropping them off in his taxi in September 2010.

The re-investigation found the officers had acted inappropriately and recommended they go through misconduct meetings, a recommendation Thames Valley Police (TVP) has now heeded.

A TVP spokesman said: “The officers are going to have misconduct meetings. This is not a misconduct hearing which is the most severe type of proceeding, but one step below that.”

A third officer was given 'management action’ over his role in the case.

Mr Sandhu was found guilty at Bracknell Magistrates’ Court in June 2011, but a subsequent appeal at Reading Crown Court in August 2011 overturned the judgement based on a lack of substantial evidence and CCTV footage. An internal investigation by TVP found in July 2012 the two officers involved had no case to answer.

However, a re-investigation ordered by the police watchdog found some of the evidence provided to the Crown Prosecution Service was 'not entirely accurate’.

It also concluded not enough information had been gained by the police to suspect Mr Sandhu had committed an offence nor to determine a necessary arrest.

Mr Sandhu, who had a clean record as a taxi driver from 1996 up until the charge, lost his licence as a result of the court cases and has not been able to regain it from the Royal Borough, estimating he has lost £100,000 in revenue.

Mr Sandhu said: “It is good news for me as it means they are being held responsible for what they did.”
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Crewe driver caught with pepper spray in his Cab

A TAXI driver caught carrying pepper spray in his cab for his own protection has been hit with a fine.

Fevzi Karalar was stopped by police in Wigan on June 11 and officers discovered a can of pepper spray in his cab.

The 42-year-old pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to carrying a weapon which discharges a noxious liquid.

He told officers he had been given the pepper spray by his brother, who had brought it back from Germany - where it is legal to carry.

He said he had previously been attacked by a passenger in his cab and was carrying it for his own protection.

Karalar, of Victoria Street, Crewe, was handed a £300 fine and ordered to pay £35 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.