New York; A Twist on Dickens... Two Tales of One City.

How de Blasio stopped the borough taxi program

It was near the end of a long series of transportation-related hearings on Thursday when Bill de Blasio's taxi commissioner revealed that the mayor was putting the brakes on outer-borough taxis.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/outer-borough-green-taxi-rollout-expand-article-1.1795762?


Outer-borough green taxi expansion agreed to by Mayor de Blasio administration

One day after Taxi and Limousine Commissioner Meera Joshi told the City Council it was “premature” to set a date for expanding the green fleet this year — as previously planned — the city is now saying it intends to start releasing permits for 6,000 new cabs over the summer.


http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/outer-borough-green-taxi-rollout-expand-article-1.1795762?
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Plymouth

A man ended up losing his job, being banned from driving and being fined almost £1,500 after a lying taxi driver who set off speed cameras picked a name and date of birth at random which happened to match his details.

Andrew Gorman, 46, perverted the course of justice on two occasions by making up the name of a random driver, Plymouth Crown Court was told. (Friday May 16).

The court heard how Gorman, of Commercial Road, Hayle, was captured twice by speed cameras in Redruth, driving a Mercedes Vito van on August 4 and 5 2012.

Nigel Hall, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said on returning a form to Peninsula Road Safety Partnership in Plymouth, Gorman on both occasions gave the name and birth date of Martin Wright as the driver of the vehicle. He also provided two different addresses from the Greater Manchester area, the first in Dukinfield and the second in Oldham.

The court heard that police traced a Martin Wright with the same birth date. In the man’s abscence he was found guilty of both speeding offences and disqualified from driving. He was also fined £1,440.

Mr Hall said, as a result of the offences, Mr Wright was also sacked by his employer, a scaffolding company, at the time.

Edward Bailey, defending Gorman, told the court that Gorman bought his own taxi firm in April of this year and employed eight drivers. He was also a regular driver for Cornwall Council, transporting disabled children around the county.

Judge Philip Wassall said: “This is a consequence you should have expected.

“The consequences went on to seriously affect the life of an innocent member of the public. He was involved in a fight to clear his name for something you chose to do.”

Judge Wassall added that the offences “go to the heart of justice.”

Mr Gorman was sentenced to a total of eight months in prison and a 6 month driving ban. He is also required to pay a victim surcharge of £100.
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Telford

Teenage boy and girl in court over attempted murder of Telford taxi driver
Two Telford teenagers today appeared in court charged with attempted murder after a taxi driver was cut in a knife attack.

 
Chloe Louise Watts, 18, of Dodmore Grange, Randlay, and a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Telford Magistrates Court today.

The pair were arrested shortly after a disturbance in which a driver was injured.

They were remanded in custody on Wednesday after being charged with attempted murder. And today they were further remanded to appear at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Monday.

The taxi driver, in his 40s, suffered a cut to his hand after picking up passengers on Tuesday night. He had been taking passengers from the new Asda in Malingsgate to Mossey Green in Ketley Bank at around 10pm when the alleged attack took place.


The driver told police that he was grabbed from behind and a knife was pushed towards his face.
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Hertfordshire

Taxi business near Watford Junction cordoned off by police after missing people found
A taxi business has been cordoned off at Watford Junction station after two missing people were found at the premises.

Police received reports raising concerns for a missing man and woman yesterday, who were later located at the building.

Two men and a woman have been arrested and are in police custody in connection to the incident.
A spokesman from Hertfordshire Constabulary said: “Police and scenes of crime officers have cordoned off a premises close to Watford Junction Train Station in Watford following reports of concerns for welfare of two people at the premises yesterday evening.

“The two people are now safe but police are appealing for information from the public who may have seen anything suspicious in or around the station between 6pm and 9pm.

"We are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have noticed men in a dark coloured Vauxhall acting suspiciously to contact them on 101 quoting ISR 708 of May 14. ”

http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/11215603._/?