France promised to ban the smartphone taxi service Uber yesterday after Parisian taxi drivers brought chaos to the capital with 'go slow' protests.
The drivers - already angered by the French government's approval of pre-booked hire car services, known as VTCs, to challenge their monopoly - were demonstrating against UberPOP, a smartphone application that allows non-professional drivers using their own cars to take on passengers at cut-price rates. The app, introduced in February, has 160,000 users in France.

UberPOP differs from other, more expensive, services such as Uber X, which requires that drivers have a permit.

Parisian taxi drivers joined forces with VTC companies, whose chauffeurs require 250 hours of training, to challenge UberPOP's legality, saying it was unfair competition.

On Friday, a commercial court ruled that it was unable to impose an instant ban on the service because details of new legislation restricting its use had not been published, provoking yesterday's protests.

The government assured striking drivers that a ban on UberPOP would be enforced in the New Year. "The law will come into force on January 1 and will punish with a two-year prison term and €300,000 fine anyone organising a system pairing up customers with people who are neither taxis nor VTCs," said a spokesman for the interior ministry. 

http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/france-bans-taxi-app-after-goslow-protest-brings-chaos-30839824.html?
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EIRE

A taxi driver dragged a passenger along a road with his car for 250m following a dispute about a fare, a court heard.

Martin Rehill, aged 63, with an address at Daroge, Seven Oaks, Rathmines, is accused of dangerous driving, failing to stop following the occurrence of an injury, and not keeping his vehicle stationary following an alleged incident at Rathgar Road, on Dublin’s southside, on May 31.

Garda Aron Lawlor told Judge Michael Walsh at Dublin District Court that one of Mr Rehill’s passengers was unable to pay a fare and rang his mother and arranged to pay at his house.

It was alleged the taxi driver asked him to leave his phone in the car as security but the man refused to hand it over, at which point Mr Rehill then drove him to Rathmines Garda Station.

Garda Lawlor said the man got out of the car but the driver stayed in his car.

It was claimed the passenger opened his door and asked the driver if he was coming in and it was alleged at that point Mr Rehill, “took off at speed at Rathgar Rd, trapping the injured party between the taxi and the road”.

Garda Lawlor said it was alleged Mr Rehill dragged the man for 250m, shouted at him that he was mentally ill and “repeatedly jammed on the brakes”.

Another taxi driver witnessed the incident and pulled up beside Mr Rehill to “box him in” after which “the injured party freed himself”, the court heard.

Judge Walsh was told the man “did not receive life- changing injuries”.

Defence solicitor Maura Kiely said “the allegation is vehemently denied” and a not guilty plea was entered by Mr Rehill.

Judge Walsh adjourned the case until January.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/taxi-driver-dragged-passenger-250m-along-road-after-fare-row-court-hears-302724.html?
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AYLESBURY

A taxi driver has been fined for illegally plying for hire in the first prosecution after the launch of an undercover operation stamping out dodgy taxis.

Said Shah, 49, of Alward Road, Aylesbury, is licensed only to pick up people in the Vale, but he accepted an unbooked fare when approached by police special constables posing as prospective customers in High Street, Tring, which is in Dacorum.

This rendered his insurance invalid for the journey.

After being prosecuted by Darocum Borough Council he pleaded guilty to one offence of unlawful plying for hire and one offence of having invalid insurance.

He was ordered to pay a total of £516 in court fines and costs, and given six penalty points on his driving licence.

Portfolio holder for residents and regulatory services at Dacorum Borough Council Neil Harden said: “This operation is part of our ongoing efforts to ensure that taxis operating within Dacorum Borough are properly licensed and insured.

“This is very much a matter of public safety. Members of the public are extremely vulnerable if they ‘flag down’ an unlicensed vehicle, or a private hire vehicle which can only accept pre-booked journeys.

“Dacorum Borough Council carries out regular operations to stamp out the practice of illegal plying for hire.

“We urge anyone taking a taxi within Dacorum to use one that is pre-booked or is a Hackney carriage licensed by Dacorum Borough Council. If you are at all unsure you should check the licence plate at the rear of the vehicle or ask to see the driver’s taxi licence.”

http://www.bucksherald.co.uk/news/taxi-driver-caught-illegally-plying-for-hire-in-undercover-operation-1-6474526