NOTTINGHAM

A sting operation in the city centre saw 15 illegal taxi drivers caught in the space of just one hour.
Nottingham's licensing boss says it is "a game of cat and mouse" to catch them in the act.

Richard Antcliff, chief for licensing at Nottingham City Council, says a 'cohort' of around 200 drivers use social media messenger service Whatsapp to keep the council off their tail.

If an illegal driver spots a council or police officer then a message is pinged out to avoid that area so they aren't caught and prosecuted.

On Friday evening in Nottingham city centre, the Post went undercover with licensing boss Mr Antcliff to evaluate the scale of the problem.

In just over one hour, 15 drivers were caught picking up customers illegally. One left his vehicle outside a bus stop to issue a tirade of abuse, and another sped off before his details could be taken.
The 15 caught are now going through the system but face possible penalties including a fine or losing their badge.

The council’s licensing team are targeting drivers who obtain private hire licences from other councils and then 'tout' for business - also known as ‘plying for hire’ - on the streets of Nottingham.
The majority of the 15 caught on Friday evening had their licences issued in Gedling. Private hire drivers from Gedling can drop off in the city, but the problems arise when they then try to pick up passengers.

Under legislation, private hire vehicles may only pick up passengers when pre-booked, rather than from a rank or being hailed down like a city hackney cab.

However, Mr Antcliffe says around 200 taxi drivers are regularly breaking the law.

Other offences committed by illegal drivers include not setting the meter, charging high prices, and leaving the passenger uninsured if an accident was to occur while in the vehicle.

Mr Antcliff says that illegal taxi drivers are putting the public at risk – with a small minority using their cover to commit serious crimes.
He said in the last six months the city has got "out of control" and more enforcement work is needed to ensure that illegal taxis are driven out of Nottingham.

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TESLA WORLDWIDE

Dec. 16 (UPI) -- Electric car company Tesla doesn't want its Supercharging stations used for commercial purposes, including cabs and ride-hailing businesses that include Uber and Lyft.

The new policy, released Friday according to Bloomberg, also applies to cars used for commercial deliveries or government purposes worldwide. Instead Tesla wants the high-speed battery chargers available for private use.

"We are continually expanding our global network of Supercharger stations to enable personal long distance travel and to provide a charging solution for those without immediate access to home or workplace charging, thereby accelerating the widespread adoption of electric vehicles," Tesla wrote. "When Superchargers are used beyond their intended purpose, it negatively impacts the availability of Supercharging services for others."

Tesla said if commercial users don't comply, "we may also take additional action to protect the availability of Superchargers for their intended purpose, such as limiting or blocking your vehicle's ability to use Supercharger stations."

The auto company said commercial users should "reach out to your local sales contact to explore vehicle and charging options that suit your needs."

Tesla stations, which can charge vehicles in 30 minutes for a range of 130 miles, are mainly along highways but have expanded to city locations.

Tesla, which began offering Supercharging stations five years ago, started 2017 with more than 5,000 Superchargers globally and plans more than 10,000 Superchargers and 15,000 Destination Charging connectors worldwide by year's end.

Model S and Model X owners receive 400 kWh of free Supercharger credit -- about 1,000 miles -- each year. After the credit, Tesla says the average cost is $6 per 100 miles compared with $13 for gasoline.

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TRAFFORD

A blind woman has told of her anger at being left stranded in the pouring rain after a taxi driver refused to pick up her guide dog.

Jeanette Fyfe says the incident in Sale left her feeling ‘powerless’.

The social worker missed an important doctor’s appointment after booking a cab from Sale firm Scotts Cars.

But when the taxi arrived at her home the driver refused to stop.

Now the cabbie has had his taxi driver’s licence revoked after Jeanette, 40, lodged a complaint.
Jeanette, who is registered blind and has severely limited sight due to a rare genetic disorder known as retinitis pigmentosa, says cabbies have refused to pick up her black Labrador guide dog Otto on at least 10 occasions in the past, but the incident in May was the final straw.

She’s now urging other guide dog owners to report similar incidents to help stamp out the problem.

“I had a really important medical appointment that I needed to get to”, she said. “I just wanted to cry, I was drenched, I was frustrated, I felt powerless.
“The anger really kicked in later when I rang the firm and was basically fobbed off. That’s when I thought this time I’m going to do something about it, because it’s happened to me so many times. It’s wearing, it’s discrimination.

“It’s a really important issue that is not being taken seriously by taxi firms. The majority of guide dog users have experienced this. There is a major problem with taxis and guide dogs.

“I want to get it out there because I really want to encourage other guide dog users to report it and see it through.

“Take video, take pictures, screengrab your booking confirmations and report it.”

Last week the Rossendale council registered driver had his a cab licence revoked following a hearing.
The driver, whose name has not been made public, has 21 days to appeal the decision.

Coun Steve Hughes, chair of Rossendale council’s licensing committee said: “We can confirm the licence of the driver in question has been revoked subject to appeal.”

Scotts Cars, based in Sale town centre, were contacted for a comment.

It is thought the driver no longer works for the firm.

It is illegal for taxi drivers to refuse to pick up guide dogs, unless the driver has a medical exemption certificate.

But earlier this month research published by the charity Guide Dogs found the number of incidents has more than doubled in the last three years, from 66 refusals in 2013 to 146 in 2016.

James White, senior campaigns manager at Guide Dogs, said: “This discrimination is not only illegal, but it’s also a huge blow to people’s confidence and feelings of acceptance in society.

Taxi and minicab drivers need to understand and abide by the law and welcome guide dogs and other assistance dogs into their vehicles.”

http://bit.ly/2Bk0lFX 

Comment. The Management of risk act 1999.
Makes it possible to refuse to take an unrestrained Dog in a saloon car.

If you are uneasy about a Dog being loose behind you it vastly increases the chance of an accident.

Of Course if you pay an extra Pound you can travel easily in a Black cab where a fixed partition exists to protect the Dog and the driver

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VIRGIN TRAINS EDINBURGH

A FEMALE church minister was ordered to get out of a complimentary taxi miles from her East Lothian home in the middle of the night after missing the last train home.

Deacon Elizabeth Harfleet was in a taxi booked by Virgin Trains after delays to her journey on their service saw her miss her connection. But she said the taxi driver only took her as far as Newcraighall – seven miles short of her home in Tranent – and then insisted he had not been told to take her further.

Faced with being abandoned on the street at 1.15am on a freezing winter night, Mrs Harfleet said that she paid the driver an additional £16 to take her home.

But she has spoken out in concern for the safety of other women who may have found themselves in the same position without any money who could have been put at risk.

She said: “I was shocked that the taxi driver was prepared to leave me on a pavement, in the early hours of the morning with a large suitcase, if I did not have money to pay him.Surely in a case like this safety should be placed above profits?

“It concerns me that this could happen, particularly at this time of year, to women in a more vulnerable position.”

Mrs Harfleet, 56, of Forthview Walk, who is a circuit minister with the Methodist Church in Scotland, was returning from a conference in Birmingham on Saturday, December 2, when delays meant she did not arrive at Edinburgh Waverley Station until 12.45am.

Virgin staff immediately organised ongoing taxis for passengers who were stranded. She gave them her details and was told she would be sharing her cab with another passenger going to Newcraighall.

However, she said that when that passenger was dropped off she was in for a shock. She said: “I told the driver I would direct him to my home in Tranent and he said he had only been booked to go as far as Newcraighall. He was adamant I would have to get out and was ready to leave me there.

“I recognised that this was not the time or place to get into an argument with a man I didn’t know. I had been given an assurance by the train manager that I would get home safely. I should not have had to do this but I offered to pay to be taken home. Of course money talks and then, meter on, we were on our way. I arrived home at 1.30am.

“Virgin Trains have a duty of care to their passengers and this situation might have been avoided with clearer communication.

“The taxi driver concerned demonstrated the most appalling dereliction of duty and passenger care I have ever encountered. He put money above safety. Who would leave a woman stranded on a roadside in the early hours of the morning, knowing this was not the chosen destination?

Clearly this man would, without a thought – shocking beyond words. I just happened to have cash on me. I just happened to be able to communicate easily and be assertive. What if that had not been the case for someone else? The outcome may have been different.”

Virgin Trains were asked for a comment but have not yet responded.

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