Thousands of Italian taxi drivers protesting against legislation they say will favour Uber have clashed with riot police during a week-long strike that has crippled transportation in Rome, Milan and Turin.
The cabbies marched through the capital and protested in front of parliament, at the headquarters of the ruling Democratic Party and at the infrastructure ministry, where officials were meeting union representatives to try to work out a settlement.
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The six-day strike has stranded tourists at Italy's main airports and train stations, complicated daily commutes and raised alarms about the start of Milan Fashion Week on Wednesday, when cabs are in high demand to shuttle fashionistas from show to show.
The drivers say the legislation would ease Uber's "irregular" inroads into Italy's rigidly regulated taxi industry, where drivers pay huge fees for the right to drive a cab.
Supporters say Italian consumers want and need greater choice in ride-sharing options.
Rome mayor Virginia Raggi lent her support to the cabbies by visiting the protest on Tuesday and saying that her 5-Star Movement had already proposed amendments to change the legislation.
The bill postpones until the end of the year norms regulating the car-hire market.
http://bit.ly/2m6AzR3
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WEALDON
A Polegate taxi driver who had his licence revoked after making nuisance phone calls has lost a legal challenge against Wealden District Council.
Former taxi-driver Farhad Jamal of Priory Road, Eastbourne, had his licence revoked by the council last June following a series of complaints about his conduct. They included claims he had made more than 30 nuisance calls to another driver.
Jamal, who worked out of Polegate Station taxi rank, launched a legal challenge, but – after a hearing on Friday, February 10 – Hastings Magistrates upheld the decision, originally made by the councillors on Wealden’s licencing sub-committee.
The council says the court agreed that Jamal was no longer a fit and proper person to hold a licence, upheld the decision and ordered him to pay £1,600 in costs.
Responding to the ruling, the chairman of the licencing committee, Cllr Nigel Coltman said: “This investigation was part of an ongoing attempt to improve the service provided by taxi drivers at the Polegate rank.
“It followed complaints by both members of the public and taxi drivers themselves. A number of drivers have been sanctioned, including Mr Jamal.
“I am pleased that the Court upheld the original decision made by Wealden councillors and the problems at the Polegate Station taxi rank have now been resolved.
“Although the majority of taxi drivers behave properly, we will investigate complaints from the public, if they have any concerns about behaviour or fares.”
The council says Jamal, who had held a licence with the council between July 2015 and June 2016, was involved in a number of incidents in his time as a licenced driver. Evidence of these incidents was presented at the court hearing, the council says.
A spokesman for Wealden District Council said: “The court found that Mr Jamal had deliberately flouted the council’s rules by accepting a second booking from the Polegate rank, without the agreement of the passenger he had picked up from the same rank moments earlier.
“It also found he had harassed another Polegate taxi driver by making some 30 to 40 nuisance telephone calls, seven of which were made at a time when that driver had passengers on board his taxi.
“Telephone records produced to the court showed that on a single day in March 2016 he was shown to have made a least 14 calls to one driver.”
http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/polegate-taxi-driver-loses-licence-over-nuisance-calls-1-7832125
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SOUTH CAMBRIDGSHIRE
The discovery of a fake taxi driver's badge by South Cambridgshire District Council prompted a police investigation into fraudulent taxi licences.
Eagle-eyed offers from the licensing team spotted a fake drivers’ badge after a scanned copy was submitted by its Buckinghamshire-based holder for checking.
On further investigation it was found the driver had not obtained the badge from the council and it was proved to be counterfeit.
As the council only ever issues taxi driver licences to individuals after an interview is carried out in person, it was immediately referred to Thames Valley Police for investigation.
During the operation, a number of properties were searched and council licensing officers worked alongside police at a registered taxi office to check driver badges and car licence plates.
A second fake South Cambridgeshire badge was seized as evidence, along with revoked vehicle plates from another council from outside the area.
A South Cambridgeshire vehicle plate was also seized, and a council suspension notice issued, after police checks showed that the car no longer had the correct insurance to carry paying passengers.
Plates and driver badges from a third out-of-area council were also found at the taxi office and are being investigated by the issuing authority.
Under the law, licensed taxi drivers and vehicles can work in any council area, but councils only have the authority to suspend or revoke driver and vehicle licenses which have been directly issued by them.
Cllr Mark Howell, cabinet member with responsibility for licensing, said: “I’d like to praise the eagle-eyed officers who spotted the fake badge and set this investigation’s wheels into motion.
"Keeping the public safe wherever they are is our number one priority, and we will continue to support both the police and other councils involved in this case with their enquiries.
“We carry out frequent spot checks in our area, and the vast majority of drivers are hardworking people offering an excellent service.
"However, we would urge anyone with concerns about a driver or vehicle to get in touch.
"We’re also calling for improved national licensing guidelines and a national database, and are lobbying through our local MPs for action.”
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/taxi-office-searched-fake-drivers-12637860
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