Saturday 30 June 2018

A Hartlepool taxi driver has highlighted the dangers of what he says is a growing problem of unlicensed taxis operating in the town.

Cabbie Neil Handisides says he has seen a rise in the amount of private vehicles taking cash from passengers, especially late night revellers in Hartlepool town centre on weekends. 

The hackney carriage driver is warning of the dangers to passengers and has called on the police to do more to tackle reports.

Cleveland Police and licensing chiefs at Hartlepool Borough Council are warning the public not to use unlicensed cabs for their own safety.

Mr Handisides, a self-employed taxi driver for almost 20 years, said: “It’s a massive problem in Hartlepool. Some people are bragging they are earning £200 to £300 a weekend.

“It is not just one or two cars it is 10 or 20. I’m getting a lot of information off other taxi drivers as well.

“People don’t realise once they get in that car and they are going to make a payment it invalidates that person’s insurance because they are not insured for public or private hire.”

He added: “It is a long drawn out process to get a taxi badge. You have to be a fit and proper person.
“Someone is going to get sexually assaulted or assaulted by one of these fake taxi drivers.

“The police could show a presence but they don’t.”

A council spokesman said: “The issue of unlicensed taxis concerns us as people using such vehicles are potentially putting themselves at risk.
“Only licensed vehicles have the correct insurance and drivers are carefully vetted before being granted a licence.”

They said it is best to pre-book through established companies, and licensed taxis are yellow with signs on their doors and plates and drivers have badges.

Chief Inspector Nigel Burnell said: “We are always grateful for information from the public and with our colleagues in the Community Safety Team we’ll work together on concerns raised.
“If you see an unlicensed taxi do report it to the council and joint action will be taken.

“The council regulates private hire vehicles and from a safety point of view we’d advise anyone against using an unlicensed taxi – you simply don’t know who you’re travelling with.” 

Anyone with information about unlicensed taxis is urged to call the council on (01429) 523354 or email licensing@hartlepool.gov.uk
------------------------------------------

DERBY

 Concerns are growing that Derby children are being taken to school by taxi drivers registered outside of the city, where checks are feared to be "less strict".

Private hire drivers are being registered by a number of councils for as little as £69 - and they can then operate anywhere in the UK.

Taxi drivers registered in Derby, where a points system exists to check on previous offences, are angry on several fronts.

Many say the taxi market is becoming flooded nationally, with the additional drivers putting existing ones at risk of being out of work.

Others claim Derby parents do not know who is driving their children to school each day, due to what they call a "lack" of stringent checks on drivers registered outside of the city.

Additionally, taxi vehicles registered outside of Derby cannot be checked for potential faults by other than the authority where they are licensed. Derby City Council is therefore powerless to take any cars not registered in the city off the road.

https://goo.gl/7X1e1x

 
GETT TAXI HAS TO RAISE MONEY

 Gett ride sharing application tops the fundraising list of Israeli start-ups in June, according to the data published on Saturday by the Hebrew-language technology site Geektime.

Figures said that Gett, which operates taxi and courier services in more than 100 cities in Israel, the United States, Russia and Britain, raised 80 million U.S. dollars in June.

Gett's raising was made possible by the existing shareholders of the company and the Volkswagen Group.

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-07/01/c_137292583.htm 

 

Friday 29 June 2018

LONDON

 A report has warned that forcing taxi drivers to take additional licensing tests could force ethnic minorities and women out of the trade.

A recent report on ensuring public safety in minicabs, commissioned by Transport for London (TfL), looked at the effects of introducing further licencing requirements on London taxi drivers.

Evidence suggests that requiring taxi drivers to take an advanced driving assessment to obtain or keep their licence would have a negative impact on ethnic minorities and women.

This is because of the extra cost of taking the test and the loss of income while training for it.

It is expected that most drivers will have to cover the cost of the advanced driving test themselves.

It currently takes 16 to 24 weeks to get a Private Hire Vehicle driver licence and can cost approximately £724 for the application.

Because of the higher proportion of women working part-time the test may act as a greater barrier to women entering and remaining in the profession.

The report also says that drivers that holding an EU driving licence will find it harder to pass the additional driving test because the requirements involved differ from EU requirements.

But Helen Chapman, TfL’s interim director of licensing, regulation and charging, said the proposals would be “pivotal” in protecting the public.

Ms Chapman added: “The experiences of passengers and their safety is at the heart of everything we do.

“We’ve worked hard to drive up the standards of the industry, from significantly increasing the number of compliance officers to ensuring passengers know who their driver is and what the vehicle details are.

“With the dramatic recent changes in the private hire industry transforming passengers’ experiences we need to go further.”

There are more private hire drivers than ever. From 2009 to 2017 the number increased from 59,000 to 113,600.

TfL have estimated on an average day there are approximately 265,500 minicab trips across London.

TfL will decide whether or not to adopt the proposals in the upcoming months.

Val Shawcross, deputy mayor for transport, said: “Keeping Londoners safe is our number one priority, and since Sadiq took over as Mayor we’ve been determined to drive up standards across the private hire industry.”

https://goo.gl/mY7RD5
 

Barking Uber driver cleared of killing man, 70, by careless driving in Aldgate hit-and-run

The trial took place at the Old Bailey.

Mohamad Uddin, 28, from Barking knocked down Mauro Gutierrez then sped off in his rented BMW at about 10.30pm on April 25 last year, the prosecution said.

Mr Gutierrez was crossing the 30mph one-way Mansell Street in Aldgate when he was sent flying around 20 metres down the road, the Old Bailey heard.

Uddin had been going up to 41mph and should have been able to see Mr Gutierrez before impact, even though the victim was wearing dark clothes, it was argued.

Afterwards he drove off with a smashed windscreen but was tracked down through his number plate.

Passers-by came to the pensioner’s aid but he died in the Royal London Hospital two hours later.

Prosecutor Christopher Amis had told jurors: “On April 25 last year at about 10.25pm a 70-year-old man, Mauro Gutierrez, was crossing a road close to where he lived known as Mansell Street when he was hit by a BMW vehicle being driving over the speed limit by this defendant.

“Very unfortunately Mr Gutierrez died from his injuries. The defendant failed to stop.

“Indeed, he accelerated away from the scene.”

Uddin, of Wilmington Gardens, denied causing death by careless driving and was found not guilty after a jury deliberated for five hours.

In the absence of the jury, the court heard the defendant had a previous conviction for speeding in 2008, when he was aged 18.

In legal argument ahead of the trial, his lawyer Kiera Chana said her client had been working as an Uber driver but was not on a job at the time.

She said: “He simply did not see the deceased until the very last moment.

“At that moment Mr Uddin did what he could to try to avoid a collision - his brake lights did turn on and he did make a movement to the left suggesting he had made some sort of attempt to move out of the pedestrian’s way to no avail.”

She said he had not worked for Uber since but his “main priority” was to patch up his relationship with his wife and two-year-old daughter who had moved out of the family home.

The family of Mr Gutierrez appeared upset as Uddin was cleared shortly after the jury was given a majority direction.

The defendant wiped away tears as he left the courtroom.

https://goo.gl/ruRZ3y
 

Thursday 28 June 2018

Wednesday 27 June 2018

BISHOP AUCKLAND

A TAXI driver caught up in the dramatic police shooting of an armed man has described suffering sleepless nights and having to leave the area to escape the memories of his terrifying ordeal.

What began as an ordinary day working in the Bishop Auckland area– as he has for 20 years– became the most traumatic experience of his life when 'all hell broke loose' and his minibus was surrounded by armed officers.

One month after the traumatic events, the cabbie – who does not want to be named – said he cannot face returning to any taxi rank because he is unable to pick up strangers.

    'Police were right to shoot me' says gunman

The man has limited his work to school runs and "safe" fares and is being treated for stress.

And he said he did not accept Houlihan's apology for his actions, saying: "He will never know how much he has screwed my life up."

The driver had been dispatched to pick up Samuel Houlihan from a shop in Bishop Auckland town centre.

He said: “I thought that would be no problem. I went and picked the guy up and he asked if we could go via Cockton Hill so he could stop at the shop. We stopped and I just waited as he ran into the Cockton Hill Club.

"A couple of minutes later he came back and tapped on the window, and said he was just going to the shop over the road to get some fags.”

The driver said he then drove Houlihan along Woodhouse Lane and found himself sandwiched between a police car and van, with another two nearby.

He looked over at his passenger and saw him pull out a gun and place it between his legs.

The driver said: “I flashed the police car in front, but they didn’t appear to take any notice. I was tapping the brake lights to attract the van, but again no notice.

“We pulled up to some temporary traffic lights and they were on red. I had my window down and I was waving my arm out of it trying to get attention.”

It was as the lights turned green that the driver said 'all hell broke loose'.

“The cars came alongside, and the next thing I knew the police were shouting instructions – put your hands up, put your hands up. He wasn’t taking any notice, and the officer told me to remove the keys from the ignition and throw them out of the window.

“He pulled a whisky bottle out, and then he was waving the gun around and the police were shouting to put the weapon down.

“I knew I couldn’t stay in the car, so I tried to open the door the best I could and fell out of the taxi.

“When you're sat in that car, you don’t know what he is going to do. I don’t know if it is imitation gun or not. It looked bloody damn really to me."

Speaking to The Northern Echo, the driver said he did not sleep for days after witnessing Houlihan get shot in the arm through the window of his taxi.

Soon after the ordeal, he sought medical support and went to stay with friends outside of the county to avoid hearing people talk about the incident or revisiting the scene.

When he got his minibus back from forensics, he faced the harrowing task of having the window fixed and blood and glass cleaned from the interior.

The driver praised Durham Police for their support.

https://goo.gl/bWv7Ck



----------------------------------------------------

WOLVERHAMPTON


Taxi drivers planning 'go-slow' protest in Wolverhampton city centre

Cabbies from outside the city still plan to protest despite campaigners calling off main rally

Taxi drivers are set to cause disruption to roads in Wolverhampton city centre tomorrow with a 'go slow' protest.

Cabbies from Coventry will descend on the Civic Centre from 12pm to 2pm to demonstrate against Wolverhampton Council's private hire licensing system.

They say the authority has issued thousands of licences to Uber drivers operating all around the country, threatening the livelihoods of black cab drivers in places including Coventry.

A protest organised by the West Midlands Private Hire Drivers' Association, which was also planned for tomorrow, was called off after council bosses threatened anyone taking part with legal action.

The new protest has been organised by the Unite union, which says cabbies have to comply with a large number of criteria and regulations which the Uber drivers can ignore.

Unite regional officer Alan Lewis said: “Coventry taxi drivers who play by the rules are facing having their livelihoods cut from under them by the unthinking actions of Wolverhampton council.

“Wolverhampton Council needs to end the race to the bottom, immediately stop this practice and withdraw licences for drivers not based in their area.”

Councillor Alan Bolshaw, Wolverhampton Council’s licensing committee chairman, said: “It would appear that the taxi trade is riddled with competing factions saying different things which paint a confusing, uncoordinated picture.

"One minute we read the protest is off and then it is back on.

"As far as we can tell, it appears that black cab drivers from Coventry, joined by opportunist local Coventry politicians will now be coming over to Wolverhampton to yet again protest about something we are powerless to change.

"They are angry about changes to national legislation, through the Deregulation Act, which threatens the closed shop that is the traditional taxi industry.

"It is the streets of Westminster rather than Wolverhampton where the taxi trade should take their protest.

"It is not fair to treat the people of Wolverhampton as piggy in the middle.

"Not only this, but staging a go-slow protest in the midday sun on a baking hot day threatens public safety and the organisers should rethink their strategy if they want to get people on-side.”

Wolverhampton Council has come under fire from drivers and other local authorities for exploiting legislation brought in through the 2015 Deregulation Act, which allows drivers to licensed in one area to operate anywhere in the country.

The city has handed out more than 9,000 licences in the last year.

https://goo.gl/MfBpS7


Tuesday 26 June 2018

WOLVERHAMPTON

‘Our licensing process is the best and the strongest there is. I’d put it up against any other in the country.’

Nigel Todd has had enough of people criticising Wolverhampton Council’s private hire licensing system.

The 60-year-old former paratrooper and police officer has been delivering licensing courses for 16 years, and he is adamant that the city’s current process offers the best service out there.

In recent months he has felt like he is in the minority, as critics line up to accuse the council of doling out licences fast and cheap in an effort to make a quick buck.


Senior trainer defends Wolverhampton Council's private hire licensing system

“A lot of the criticism is completely unfair,” says Nigel, who heads a team of three that run training programmes as part of a joint initiative between Wolverhampton and Worcestershire County Council.

“It is rubbish to say it is easy to get a licence here. We have a 44 per cent failure rate. Just because the process is easy does not mean it is easy to pass.”

The council charges £69 for a licence – far lower than most other authorities – and drivers can be licensed in just 20 days.  

It means Wolverhampton has become the go-to place for licence hunters not just from Bradley and Bradmore, but from Billericay, Bolton, Bath and hundreds of other towns and cities.

Some other local authorities are annoyed. Aside from the fact that their own licensing coffers are dwindling, they say that ‘cross-border’ hiring means drivers with a Wolverhampton licence can operate in their areas with little or no checks.

Wolverhampton cabbies are not happy either, arguing that the ease of obtaining a licence means the city’s roads are flooded with new drivers.

But the system has certainly proved popular with out-of-towners, who have flocked to the city in their thousands to get a licence.

The evidence is in the numbers.

The council gave out 9,388 licences over the last year, up from 852 three years ago, bringing in £2.2 million.

It has been made possible by the 2015 Deregulation Act, which allowed licensed drivers to operate anywhere in the country.
Express & Star's Pete Madeley watches on

Anyone applying in Wolverhampton must attend a four-hour training session, including guidance on conditions of licence, disability awareness, child sexual exploitation and safeguarding. It is followed by a multiple-choice test.

A recent class at the Bert Williams Leisure Centre was attended by 14 candidates, including people from Rochdale, Nottingham, Derby, Coventry, Birmingham and Sandwell.

One driver was from Wolverhampton.

It highlights one of the major criticisms the city has faced.

If a driver from say, Weymouth, is licensed in Wolverhampton, there is surely no way they can be checked on by the city once they are operating four hours away down on the south coast?

“Not true,” says Nigel, pointing out that compliance officers from Wolverhampton regularly carry out checks in other local authority areas.

He says they recently visited Southampton and went out with police, stopping Wolverhampton licensed vehicles to make sure they were not breaking the law.

“We’re not letting people run wild when they are out of the area. We will check on them to make sure they obey our rules. We go to other areas and ask them if they would like to run joint compliance exercises with us, and some of them say ‘no, you’ve caused the problem you fix it’.

“It would be better if they worked with us instead of against us.”
Course tutor Nigel Todd

Wolverhampton’s training course contains no formal English test – another criticism often levelled at the authority.

Instead drivers’ grasp of the lingo is tested through an informal chat, followed by a series of job related questions posed by a training officer in private.

One man produces a French licence as ID and is clearly struggling to understand English. He is asked to leave the course, as is another gentleman who greets the question ‘Where are you from?’ with a blank look.

Concerns have also been raised over a wider public safety issue, with the authority accused of failing to carry out stringent criminal records checks or checks to see if drivers have been banned elsewhere.

“You have to be a fit and proper person to be a driver and there is an enhanced DBS check and checks to see if they have been licensed with other authorities,” said Nigel.

“There is no central database to check whether drivers have been refused by other authorities – although there is talk of that happening and I think everyone would agree it is a good idea.”

So why are so many people coming to Wolverhampton for a licence?

Athikur Rahman, from Birmingham, said: “The process takes a lot longer in Birmingham. In Wolverhampton it is very quick. If I get a licence I get the choice to drive in Wolverhampton or Birmingham.”

At the end of the session, six out of the original group of 14 – 43 per cent – have passed and will be licensed by the city as private hire drivers. Later that day in another session the pass rate was again 6/14.

While Nigel argues that the pass rate is low, for other local authorities it is potentially 12 drivers that could have been licensed in their areas.

And for Wolverhampton drivers, it is 12 newbies who may be competing with them for custom.

As far as Nigel is concerned, it is a simple case of supply and demand, with Wolverhampton better than others at responding to the 2015 law change.

“Wolverhampton Council did not change the law, it changed with the law,” he said.

“We are providing a fantastic service at a cheaper price. How is that wrong?”


 https://goo.gl/3muvPD 

Comment: The Planned demo in Wolverhampton for Thursday this week, has been cancelled. It is said that Wolverhampton Council have obtained an Injunction stopping the Action:

This will obviously lead to a 'Flash' demo on another date.

Saturday 23 June 2018

Cheshire West and Chester Council rejects taxi survey call from Unite union

COUNCILLORS have rejected a request from the Unite union to assess whether fewer taxis should run in Ellesmere Port and Neston.

Derek Cummins, branch chairman at Unite, wrote a letter calling for Cheshire West and Chester Council to approve an unmet demand survey for taxis in the two towns.

The letter, which was passed on to Labour Cllr Brian Jones, suggested that there was a lack of ranking facilities for taxis in the area and that the taxi trade had suffered from a ‘serious downturn in economic fortunes’ – including a lack of nightlife.

But Mr Cummins insisted the call was not just about restricting the number of drivers in the two towns.

He said: “There is a mistaken belief among the taxi trade, councillors and even licensing officers that a survey is carried out to restrict entry into the trade.

“In fact it is to ascertain the level of provision to the travelling public, rank provisions, present and future economic activity to enable members of licensing committees to make an informed decision.

“It is quite common for a survey to recommend that more licences be issued, not less.”

Local authorities are only required to carry out unmet demand surveys in areas where the number of taxi licences are restricted.

Ellesmere Port and Neston had their restrictions lifted in 2014, and in the four years that have followed there has been a six per cent increase in the number of hackney cabs on the towns’ roads.

Justin Madders, Labour MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston, wrote about a lack of hackney carriage provision in the area last April.

And at a meeting on Tuesday, members of CWAC’s licensing committee agreed there is no appetite to restrict the number of taxis in the towns.

Cllr Peter Rooney, Labour member for Ledsham and Manor, said: “There really is a problem in Ellesmere Port with getting a taxi.”

Cllr Myles Hogg, Conservative member for Willaston and Thornton, added: “There is a long history in Ellesmere Port of restricting numbers – that was the trade’s desire for many years.

“But there are no restrictions now. The only restriction is the trade itself feeling there is not enough work to be carried out.”

https://goo.gl/VaMuo3
 



Tuesday 19 June 2018

 SOUTH WALES

A 22-year-old who died after being struck by a taxi was walking home after being refused entry to a nightclub, an inquest has heard.

Eve Lewis died from "catastrophic injuries" she suffered in the early hours of March 4 this year.

Giving evidence at the hearing into her death, the driver of a Ford Tourneo minibus which hit her described seeing a shadow in the road a split second before the fatal accident.

Pontypridd Coroner's Court heard how Anthony Shankland from South Cornelly desperately flagged down another road user when he realised what had happened.

He said: “I saw a shadow and I thought it was a large animal because you get foxes in the area.

“It wasn’t until I stopped I saw that it was a young lady on the floor.”

He said he was “driving between 40-45 mph in the left lane of the dual carriageway” in Porthcawl when tragedy struck.

Eve was taken by ambulance to Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend.

According to a statement from Dr Laura Harvey who treated her she had suffered a “catastrophic brain injury” which nobody could survive.

Toxicology reports revealed the popular prison officer has a level of alcohol in her system equivalent to being three times over the drink drive limit.

The inquest heard how she had been refused entry to Streets Nightclub in Porthcawl around 25 minutes before being hit by the taxi.

Other drivers reported seeing her walking along the dark carriageway.

https://goo.gl/wzYVjn

-----------------------------------------

 AUSTRALIA

 A taxi driver has claimed what should have been a $35 fare has left him $450 in the red.

Srijan Polasani said he drove a couple from the Melbourne suburb of Richmond to nearby St Kilda on Monday - a roughly 20 minute trip, according to 3AW.

But upon arriving at the destination, the man - who allegedly had a British accent – told Mr Polasani he didn’t have any cash or cards on him and asked to transfer him $50 using the ANZ banking app on his phone.

'He said sorry, I was meant to transfer you $50 but I've transferred $500,' Mr Polasani told 3AW.

'I logged into my account and I could see $500 in there, so I thought it was right.' 

Mr Polasani stopped at an ATM, withdrew $450 cash and gave it to the man.

Minutes later the $500 disappeared from his account.

It is, according to Chief Information Security Officer at Swinburne University Steven Cvetkovic, one of the oldest banking scams in the book - the equivalent of someone paying for a service with a cheque, only for it to bounce.

'They [the payer] dispute the charges and the money goes back to the person who originally sent it,' said Mr Cvetkovic.

Mr Polasani's friend, another taxi driver, claims to have had the same thing happen to him - also at the hands of a man with a British accent. 

ANZ reportedly neglected to refund Mr Polasani, instead telling him to go to the police to lodge a statutory declaration, according to 3AW.

https://goo.gl/QM4DNR 


-----------------------------------------------

 HARROGATE

 A taxi which had been granted a licence in Bradford was taken off the road when police joined other officials to carry out spot checks on vehicles in Harrogate.

It was one of 11 vehicles to be found with defects during checks to ensure taxis operating in the town were providing a safe service to passengers, North Yorkshire Police said today.

Also in news: Harrogate Hospital's Emergency Department moved for temporary works

Officers from North Yorkshire Police’s Road Policing Group worked alongside Harrogate Borough Council, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to check a total of 23 private hire vehicles and Hackney Carriages during the operation on Friday evening.

DVSA officials carried out full mechanical examinations to check for any defects and found one taxi, licenced in Bradford, had a fault with its tyres.

It was given an immediate prohibition notice, which means it cannot be on the road until repairs are made.

Three other vehicles were given a delayed prohibition notice due to issues with wheels, suspension and other components, giving them seven days to rectify the fault.

Seven drivers were advised in relation to minor vehicle defects and several drivers were also warned by taxi inspectors about breaches of taxi licencing rules.

https://goo.gl/ekJHQr 

----------------------------------------------

Cambridge City Council is reminding residents and visitors that all taxi drivers licensed by Cambridge City are subject to a rigorous series of checks before and after being licensed to operate, to ensure passenger safety.

The reminder comes in response to media reports that some licensing authorities in the UK have issued licences to drivers with criminal records, and have been issuing licences incorrectly.

The council undertakes a number of checks before issuing a licence to a driver, and each time before their licence is renewed. These include:

    Checking for any criminal records


    Ensuring applicants have had a recent medical


    Ensuring applicants have a current driving licence


    Ensuring applicants have the right to work in the UK

The council is responsible for licensing all Hackney carriage, private hire and dual drivers, as well as taxi proprietors and operators in Cambridge.

All drivers are also required to undertake a ‘knowledge’ test to ensure they are familiar with the streets and landmarks of Cambridge, and to complete safeguarding training.

Once licences are issued, the council carries out regular enforcement work to ensure drivers are complying with the conditions of their licence.

Any complaints received by customers regarding the conduct of licensed taxi drivers are investigated and responded to by the council.

If a complaint is considered to be sufficiently serious the council’s Licensing Sub-Committee can consider whether a licence should be revoked or suspended. In exceptional circumstances a licence can be revoked immediately.

Cllr Gerri Bird, Chair of the Licensing Committee, said: “We are committed to ensuring that all customers are safe when using taxis in Cambridge

“A safe and efficient taxi service plays a very important role in the city’s transport network. The council works closely with drivers, taxi companies and taxi users to ensure that we are doing all we can to maintain and improve standards in Cambridge.”

https://goo.gl/ohwLcF

---------------------------------------------- 





Monday 18 June 2018

BRIGHTON

This week I heard alarming new from Brighton that MyTaxi had been using PH Cars to cover ihails in that Town.

You will remember that the Brighton trade, in Particular the Streamline Taxi Co, were successful in getting UBERK banned in that Town. That decision influenced TfL to also refuse a new License to UBERK in the Capital.


 The Guys down there have worked fabulously, to the benefit of all the trade around the Country.

With that thought in mind, I contacted my pal Donna Short of the NPHA to request an introduction to any member of the Brighton trade who may assist me in this matter.

Luckily she put me in touch with just the Guy I needed. John Streeter of Streamline.

John rang me this morning and what an impressive Guy this is.

It appear that MyTaxi have used at least one PH Car to cover iHails in that area, why ?

Two things one, Streamline are a very Professional outfit and drivers/members are not allowed to work for any other Companies.


 Sanctions are put in place to anybody who crosses the line. It would not therefore be in anybodies best interest to take a 'Punt' on an App which may fold up leaving with the driver no fall back provision.So very few Hacks have signed up.

The second issue is that Brighton have 'dual' Licenses. A licensed driver, who passes Brightons stringent driver requirements can driver Hackney or PH. MyTaxi would not be able to tell from just a Photo of his badge.

I have no doubt this is unlawful and I am sure it will be sorted shortly.

John has promised to keep us updated and my Impression is that he is a man of his word and a real pleasure to deal with.

John was a Guest writer in May's edition of the badge Magazine....here

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18WH8MPaP91-ul20XORaFWzG0HH3Mlw1_/view?usp=sharing 

--------------------------------------

T-F-L... E-TAXI SIGNS

The Department of Transport have authorised new Taxi Bus Lane signs, this raise,s the prospect that traditional Derv Taxis will loose their privelidged use of Bus Lanes in the Capital.

This also raises the possibility of Pollution charging be implemented in the Capital.

All this to promote a vehicle which is proving to be quite useless. The software fault which cripples this vehicle is currently causes down times of 2-3 weeks.

The Dept of Transport Docs can be found here :

 https://drive.google.com/open?id=1u-Ht5J158GYS3nl4YNQB1iTCxaq_aT2l

Saturday 16 June 2018

 NEW YORK 6TH TAXI DRIVER TOPS HIMSELF

New York City taxi driver Abdul Saleh, 59, was found hanging by an electrical cord in his apartment Friday. Saleh was reportedly struggling financially, and was the sixth driver in the city to take their own life in the past eight months. Advocacy groups and activists have blamed a wave of financial desperation among longtime professional drivers on increased competition from ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft.

According to the New York Post, Saleh had not been making enough money to cover the lease on his taxicab and medallion. His business partner said Saleh had “sounded upset and depressed.”

Saleh’s story so far appears to parallel those of other drivers who have killed themselves. The most prominent of those was Doug Schifter, a longtime driver for hire. Schifter publicly chronicled the bleak impact of increased competition on his livelihood before violently taking his own life in front of New York’s City Hall.

https://goo.gl/WV18M9


--------------------------------------------

Thursday 14 June 2018

THIS WEEK IN PARLIAMENT MP'S SHOW WHY THEY ARE WELL WORTH THIER, QUITE CONSIDERABLE, MONEY

Tom Brake Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (International Trade), Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Exiting the European Union)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of granting additional powers to local authorities to carry out taxi and private hire enforcement activities in response to taxi and private hire drivers and operators


 (a) engaging in cross border hiring and

 (b) operating in their local area under a licence issued by a different local authority.

Nusrat Ghani Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport), Assistant Whip (HM Treasury)

At a Westminster Hall Debate last year, the Rt Hon John Hayes MP announced the formation of a Task and Finish group to consider any regulatory issues and remedies.


 The Group’s remit includes the current powers of licensing authorities, their application and effectiveness.

 Issues that may arise from taxi or private hire vehicle drivers working predominantly or exclusively out of the area in which they are licensed have been considered as part of its deliberation.

The group is expected to submit its report shortly.

(Citation: HC Deb, 13 June 2018, cW)


ENDS
---------------------------------

Impressed, No ? Me neither, particularly when I take you back in time to last year 

 Hansard source
    (Citation: HL Deb, 16 November 2017, cW)


 Baroness Randerson Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Transport) (£300 quid a day for turning up)

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to update regulations for taxis and private hire vehicles.


------------------

 Baroness Sugg Baroness Sugg Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
(another £300 per day exe's).

 At the request of the Department for Transport, the Law Commission undertook a comprehensive review of taxi and private hire regulation in England and Wales.

Since this report the sector has undergone profound and rapid change. At a Westminster Hall Debate on 5 July, my Rt Hon Friend, the Minister of State for Transport (John Hayes MP)

announced the formation of a working group which is considering regulatory issues and remedies, including the Commission’s recommendations.
 
 The group will report in the New Year.

----------------------------------------

Comment : Their we have it, its in Hansards so it must be true, somebody somewhere is working hard on the "Profound and Rapid Change"
going on in the Taxi and P.H. industry.

If the change is so rapid, why does it take a YEAR to rehash the same reply to the People, M.P,s claim to serve
READING

A taxi driver faces fines and costs after offering to carry a covert customer illegally

Reading Borough Council licensing officers were carrying out test purchasing during the festival period last year when the offences were committed.


An undercover officer approached taxi driver Syed Hamdani, of Myrtle Crescent, Slough, in Cremyll Road, near the festival site, at about 11.30pm on 25th August 2017.


Mr Hamdani, a hackney carriage driver licensed by the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, agreed to take the covert customer to Bracknell for £60 without a booking. If the journey had gone ahead, neither the driver, car or passenger would have been insured in the event of an accident.


The 44-year-old driver was charged with illegally plying for hire and failing to display his badge.

He was found guilty at a hearing at Reading Magistrates Court on Tuesday 5th June 2018. Mr Hamdani did not attend court but made a written submission and denied the charges.


Mr Hamdani was fined £650 for each offence and ordered to pay costs of £1,420 and a victim surcharge of £65.


Cllr Tony Page, Lead Councillor for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport, said:
“Licensing officers carry out these operations to protect members of the public from taking journeys in taxis which do not have the relevant licence.


“The driver in this case has been left considerably out of pocket after agreeing to take a passenger illegally for the sake of a £60 fare.”

https://goo.gl/XqKVHj 

 -----------------------------------------------
 COLNE

A CABBIE who drove into an elderly woman and didn’t stop has failed his attempt to get back his licence.

Mohammad Ayub, from Crown and Greenline Private Hire in Colne, injured the woman in January and this week his appeal to regain his taxi licence was refused.

Pendle Council officials played video footage at an appeal hearing showing the collision.

A passer-by called the police after the woman was hit in Parliament Street, Colne, who suffered elbow and knee injuries.

The chairman of the bench said Ayub, of Carr Road, Nelson, had 'shown a shocking lack of care in his driving.'

Ayub, who also had nine penalty points for three speeding convictions and subject to two other complaints the council had received against him, was described as ‘not a fit and proper person’ by the chairman of the bench. Pendle Council was awarded £250 in court costs.

Riaz Ahmed, from Union Cabs in Colne, also lost his appeal to get his taxi operator’s licence back. Ahmed, of Park Avenue, Barrowford, had been allowing unlicensed drivers to drive his taxis. He had not kept proper records of bookings, his cars were poorly maintained and the council had received complaints about his taxi company.

The chairman of the magistrates noted that there had been 16 months of complaints and warnings in respect of record keeping, unlicensed drivers and mechanical faults and that the breaches were continuing.

The court awarded Pendle Council £500 in court costs from Ahmed, for his failed appeal.

Mr Ahmed has now begun an appeal to the crown court against the decision.

Cllr Paul White, leader of the council, said: “The court said that he was trusted with public safety and there had been no improvement in his business. These two unsuccessful appeals against our decisions show that we are right to take a tough line in tackling problems with taxi drivers and operators.

“Taxi safety in Pendle is very important to us.”

Neil Watson, Pendle Council’s manager for taxi licensing, said: “There are many taxi companies in Pendle which provide a good service. But this operator and driver do not deserve to get their licences back.”

https://goo.gl/DDQwgA 

---------------------------------------------------

 THAILAND

 A young woman showed why you shouldn't put make-up on in a moving car when she stabbed an eyeliner pencil into her eye.



The woman, aged in her 20s, was sitting in the back of a taxi in slow-moving traffic in Bangkok, Thailand on Tuesday afternoon as she applied some eyeliner.

But she had to be rushed to hospital after the driver accidentally shunted into the back of a pick-up truck, causing the woman to jolt forward with the pencil still in her hand.

She hit the seat in front of her and the pencil was rammed into her skull, just missing her brain.

Miraculously, her sight has been left unaffected, according to medics who treated her.

Paramedic Thanabodee Sabbodi said the crash was minor but the ''freak accident'' had caused half of the pencil to plunge into the eye socket of the young woman, who has not been identified.

He said: ''The crash happened at 5.20pm in Din Daeng area of Bangkok while the lady was putting on make-up on her way outside for the evening.

''We received a call and there was one injured female with an eyebrow pencil inserted into her left eye.

''She was in a lot of pain when we came but she could still talk to us and explain what happened. There was not a lot of blood but she had a small nose bleed.''

https://goo.gl/dCTKV5 

----------------------------------------

 OLDHAM 

SCORES of complaints have been made against private hire and black cab drivers licensed by Oldham Council – with dozens taken off the roads.

A report presented to the council’s licensing committee states that in the past year the town hall has received 171 complaints about its drivers, operators and vehicles.

These range from accusations of dangerous driving, overcharging, and the cabby chatting on their phone while at the wheel.

The biggest issue for both hackney and private hire drivers is attitude and behaviour, which forms the basis of 70 complaints.

Second to this is dangerous driving, with 29 complaints being made about private hire drivers compared to just two incidents for hackney drivers.

Private hire drivers have also been accused of failing to report an accident, refusing to carry a guide dog, and smoking in the vehicle.

There were two complaints of "illegal behaviour" and two "sexual related" complaints – all four were made against private hire drivers.

In the past two years the number of drivers licensed by the authority has ballooned – with 300 new cabbies on the roads.

It’s a 13 pc increase from 2,193 in 2016, to 2,493 as of this May.

Since last June the authority has held 37 hearings to rule on whether to grant taxi licenses where offences or conduct issues have been flagged up.

The majority were applications for new or licence renewals. Just one was granted outright, with 23 refused and eight granted "with suspension".

There were five reviews of licences, with all of them being suspended.

And in the past year, 29 pc of licensed vehicles have failed their mechanical tests.

The committee report states: “Officers continue to work with the private hire and hackney trade to ensure effective communication and consultation takes place.”

Town hall chiefs say the main area of work currently being undertaken is with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Transport for Greater Manchester (TFGM) on the "harmonisation" of private hire and hackney licensing policies.

They say the "major" piece of work, which will report in the autumn, is aimed at ensuring high standards across the region, as well as consistency.

A consultation will be launched in July for twelve weeks to the trade and TFGM will undertake the public consultation alongside it.

The areas to be covered – to ensure Oldham is "consistent" – include age of vehicles linked to emissions and air quality, a spoken English test and a drivers’ code of conduct.

They will also be looking to update the "fit and proper" guidelines for determining applications and reviewing licences, improving vehicle testing standards, and a private hire operator code of conduct and safeguarding policy.

https://goo.gl/Vf5Bhx 


---------------------------------------------------

Wolverhampton taxi drivers have been lambasted for talking ‘codswallop’ and told their planned protest this month is ‘outrageous’ and ‘pointless’.

Councillor Alan Bolshaw, the licensing lead for Wolverhampton council, has launched a scathing attack after taxi drivers revealed plans to hold a go-slow protest in the city on June 28 – the same day as England’s final group stage match against Belgium in the World Cup.

The drivers are protesting in a bid to pressure the council into introducing tougher licensing tests as they say they are being forced out of their jobs as thousands of licences are handed out by the council to drivers across the UK.

But Councillor Bolshaw described the drivers’ comments as ‘codswallop’ and said it was ‘pointless’ to keep protesting.

He said: “This proposed action is nothing short of outrageous.

“Protests of this nature do nothing but inconvenience the public and to plan this on the evening of an England World Cup match, when the city centre will be very busy, is a provocative act which will only serve to antagonise people.”

Campaigners claim the council have made the licensing test too easy, which has led to too many taxi drivers on the roads.

The test also takes 20 working days or less, and costs £69 – the cheapest in the region.

A total of 40 per cent of candidates fail the exam each time, the council revealed.

Councillor Bolshaw added: “The driver representatives talk about public safety being the motivation behind this action.

"This is utter codswallop, this action is about protecting an industry which for too long has been a closed shop which doesn’t welcome competition – even if the public do.

“Technology has revolutionised the taxi industry and Wolverhampton Council has been at the forefront of this step change.

“It is pointless drivers protesting to us about issues which are governed by national legislation and the fact I keep having to say this is frankly becoming tiresome.

“The law allows drivers and operators to get their licence where they wish and if people choose to come here because of our efficient and speedy system, then we are not allowed to turn them away.

“I urge the drivers to call off this futile action and if they are serious about these issues, perhaps would do better to take them up with the lawmakers at Westminster rather than once again target the people of Wolverhampton.”

https://goo.gl/3ANexq





Tuesday 12 June 2018

NEW YORK : THE TAXI OF TOMMORROW, HAS HAD ITS DAY

In 2011, after a lengthy competition among automakers, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced that the Nissan NV200 would become the “Taxi of Tomorrow,” with most yellow cab owners required to purchase the boxy, bright yellow van. Eventually, the vehicle was expected to make up 80 percent of New York City’s fleet of over 13,000 cabs.

At the time, city officials touted the NV200’s increased leg room, USB charging ports and sunroof as amenities that would be attractive to riders who had long complained about cramped travel in less-than-spotless back seats.

But it turns out that tomorrow lasted only seven years.

Last week, the Taxi and Limousine Commission reversed the requirement, expanding drivers’ options beyond the Nissan NV200 to a smorgasbord of over 30 vehicles, including popular, fuel-efficient models like the Toyota Camry.

Many drivers who never grew enamored of the Nissan praised the decision, complaining about bumpy rides, frequent mechanical problems, gas-guzzling engines and the vehicle’s small interior that only fits a maximum of four passengers.

While a spokesman for the commission, Allan Fromberg, said the main purpose of the rule change was to give drivers more choices, the decision comes at a time when the yellow taxi industry is in financial free fall, decimated by the extraordinary rise of ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft.

“The ‘Taxi of Tomorrow’ was problematic from the start,” said Michael Woloz, a lobbyist who represents the Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade, which represents the owners of 5,500 medallions. “I think the fears that many people have about one company monopolizing the whole industry have come true in a lot of ways.”

Mr. Bloomberg granted Nissan an exclusive 10-year contract worth an estimated $1 billion, based on mandating that owners of over 12,000 taxi medallions eventually purchase an NV200. The contract is expected to remain in effect, though its ultimate value will be far less given that cab owners are no longer locked into the Nissan.

Today, there are 2,671 NV200 taxis on the streets, according to the Taxi and Limousine Commission. Each car costs about $39,000, a figure that rises to over $50,000 to make it wheelchair accessible.

Despite its many critics, the Nissan does have its fans. Malik Sarman, 23, a college student who has driven a rented cab from a garage in Queens for nearly five years, said he appreciated the modern touches the Nissan offers.

“It’s a great car,’’ Mr. Sarman said. “It’s comfortable, especially for tall people, you got more leg room and stuff, plus they have the intercom system. The driver could be listening to his own music in the front, and the passenger could be listening to their music in the back.”

As a part-time driver, however, Mr. Sarman does not have to drive the NV200 every day and instead uses whatever cars are available at the garage.

But then there are drivers like Sergio Cabrera, 60, who owns his vehicle and the expensive medallion needed to have it on the road. He said the NV200 has given him many headaches.

Mr. Cabrera, who has been driving cabs for over 20 years, said the NV200 is his fourth vehicle, after having owned three Ford Crown Victorias.

“There hasn’t been a worse car for the taxi industry than the NV200,” he said. “It’s not easy for older people to get into. Mechanically it’s one of the worst made cars I’ve ever owned.”

Mr. Cabrera complained that owning the Nissan has been expensive, in part because of regulations that he and other cabdrivers say subjects them to more maintenance rules than drivers for ride-sharing apps.

The Taxi and Limousine Commission requires yellow taxis to undergo a 200-point inspection every four months. Each time his Nissan has been inspected, Mr. Cabrera said he has had to spend at least $1,500 in repairs to pass.

 By comparison, the commission requires the same 200-point inspection for ride-hailing apps and other for-hire services once every two years.


 https://goo.gl/ctDBzk

---------------------------------------------------

 PITTSBURGH—In the auto industry’s war for tech talent, Ford Motor Co. F 0.67% made an unusual $1 billion bet last year to fund an artificial-intelligence company in Pittsburgh with fewer than a dozen employees.



The aim was to build expertise in automated driving by offering job recruits a potentially lucrative perk that Dearborn, Mich., car maker couldn’t otherwise provide: an equity stake for new hires in a fast-growing startup.

The company, Argo AI, has since grown to about 330 employees, in part by luring away software engineers and robotics researchers from Apple Inc., Uber Technologies Inc. and other tech companies. Ford, which holds a majority stake in the company, is banking on Argo to help it catch up in the race to build driverless cars.

“Every employee is an owner,” said Argo Chief Executive Bryan Salesky. “They’re able to benefit from the upside being created in a direct way. That can’t be offered with a large company where the stock goes up and down with earnings.”

Ford aims to start selling a fully autonomous car for commercial use in 2021. Argo is also working on an autonomous-driving system that they can eventually sell to other companies, too.

https://goo.gl/jVqdEq


Monday 11 June 2018

TURKISH PRIME MINISTER ASKS TAXI DRIVERS ONE THING

"I ask for one thing from you in the name of my nation: Quality,”
---------------------------------

 The Uber dispute “is finished” in Turkey, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said early on June 11, while calling on taxi drivers to take measures to improve conditions that led people to prefer Uber, which was recently banned in the country.

“Something called Uber has emerged. The president has made a clear instruction on the matter. No one can earn undeserved money in this country. Their technology doesn’t count,” Yıldırım told drivers during a pre-dawn sahur Ramadan meal in Istanbul.

“No non-taxpayers can do business here,” he said, assuring yellow cab drives that “it is our duty to remove this network, which works illegally in your field.”

Istanbul traffic police have stepped up their inspections to identify Uber vehicles and motorcycles utilizing Scott, an Uber-like ridesharing app, following President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s June 1 comments.

“Something called Uber has arisen. But that business is now over. There is no such thing anymore ... We already have a taxi system. Uber exists in Europe. I do not care,” Erdoğan had said in an iftar fast-breaking meal speech on June 1.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yıldırım said the taxi drivers’ chamber should take responsibility for providing better services for users.

“How did this [Uber] enter the market? Not as a prime minister but as a brother of yours, I ask for one thing from you in the name of my nation: Quality,” he said.

https://goo.gl/LwfGM8

-----------------------------------------------

LIVERPOOL

  A private hire taxi driver told a little girl to get into his car before following her to school in Childwall this morning.

Police officers are carrying out enquiries following the suspicious incident near a primary school at 8.40am.

A pupil at St Paschal Baylon Primary School reported that a male taxi driver had spoken to her inappropriately.

The incident is believed to have happened at traffic lights on Bowring Park Avenue, close to the Turnpike Tavern.

The girl reported that the taxi driver had asked her to get into the vehicle, before following her up the road and staring at her.

She went to school and immediately reported the incident to a teacher.

Enquiries are ongoing to establish more details on the man and his vehicle and an alert has been issued to remind pupils to be vigilant when going to school.

Local Policing Inspector Andy Wignall said: "Although no attempt was made to grab the girl, it is clearly an alarming incident and one which we take seriously.

"We will be carrying out high-visibility patrols at the school tomorrow and I would encourage anyone with information to speak to us, whether you were passing, saw anything suspicious or have any more details on this taxi.

"The girl involved did exactly the right thing in ignoring this man and speaking to an adult straight away so it is good to see stranger danger messages work.

https://goo.gl/rsE6xG 


---------------------------------------



Wednesday 6 June 2018

MANCHESTER PARKLIFE TAXI       ARRANGEMENTS.. 9 JUNE



Monday 4 June 2018

 EUROPE’S s largest taxi e-hailing app has launched in Brighton today.

mytaxi is rolling out the app across the country this summer and is offering 50 per cent off all trips for all Brighton passengers until the end of June.

Hannah Soll-Morris, head of operations and expansion, said: “We couldn’t be more excited to launch in Brighton.

“Brighton is an outstanding city for many reasons; the welcoming local community, the beach, the vibrancy and diversity, the thriving business community and the exciting events calendar just to name a few.

“We’ve had an incredibly strong start to 2018 by both expanding our London business and launching in Nottingham and Edinburgh and we’re thrilled to continue to extend our UK footprint in Brighton.

“We hope that, mytaxi can provide you a safe pair of hands behind the wheel as well exceptional local knowledge”

She said that supporting and promoting local licensed taxi drivers is fundamental to the mytaxi culture.

Brighton mytaxi driver ambassador Arianit Halili said: “The launch of the mytaxi app in Brighton is an exciting prospect for us local licensed taxi drivers with mytaxi giving us access to a readily available customers base.

“It’s brilliant to see an investment in the local knowledge and skills of licensed taxi drivers within Brighton.”

mytaxi was launched in 2009.

It is a free smartphone app which puts people two taps away from a licensed taxi.

mytaxi is available in more than 75 cities within 11 countries.

It is a free app available for iOS and Android.

http://bit.ly/2Lou1pr 

----------------------------------------

SPANISH SUPREME COURT LIMITS PH VEHICLE LICENSES TO ONE FOR EVERY 30 HACKNEYS

The Supreme Court has endorsed the limit of 1 VTC license for every 30 taxis, on the understanding that it is "adjusted and right and non-discriminatory". This is what he says in the ruling he made public this Monday and that he does have the obligation to have a fleet of seven vehicles dedicated to renting vehicles with a driver. In this way, the Court closes the door to the thousands of authorizations claimed in recent months in communities such as Madrid or Barcelona.

The Third Chamber of the Court has endorsed the imposition of "limitations on the activity of the VTC, whenever necessary and proportionate, as a way to ensure the balance between the two modes of urban transport, to ensure the maintenance of the service of the taxi as a service of general interest ", as reported by the court today.

l Minister of Public Works, Iñigo de la Serna, during the presentation of the Lanestosa Variant (N-629) today in Santander. EFE / Pedro Puente

The Government gives and rescues the taxi with a decree law to stop Uber and Cabify






































Sunday 3 June 2018

Forbes Blame Restrictions on Medallions for Ultimately causing Suicides

Last weekend the New York Times reported another suicide within the ranks of New York City taxi drivers.  And while it’s likely that many factors played into this most tragic of acts, the Times indicated that the driver had purchased a once-coveted “medallion” that gave him the right to own and operate a taxi in the city.

 Crucial here is that a medallion which once fetched up to $1.3 million has plummeted to $175,000, and sometimes less.

The Times’ article inferred that the rapidly declining cost of the medallion led to the driver’s suicide.  Having gone into debt to purchase that which had historically risen in value thanks to its scarcity, this driver was suddenly deep in debt.

By now readers are likely aware of where this is headed.  The narrative offered up by the Times is that bareknuckled, disruptive, Schumpeterian-style market competition in the form of Uber, Lyft and other private transportation services has wiped out the once prosperous taxi industry in New York.

  For individual medallion holders who followed the rules in buying a commodity that legalized their work in the City, market forces have viciously erased the livelihood of some.  That suicides are the end result of unregulated market activity is supposedly another reminder of the life-ending cruelty that often comes with free markets.

Except that free markets are not the cause of the misery.  Though it’s surely true about Uber and other transportation services upending NYC’s taxi industry, and it’s surely true that the latter correlates with plummeting medallion prices, let’s not be foolish and pretend that Uber’s existence is causing the suicides.  Assuming the relation between crashing medallion values and Uber is true, the real culprit is government.

The reason why is obvious.  Since 1937 Yellow Cab-style taxis had to have a “medallion” or license to operate in New York City.  The New York Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) limited the number of medallions that could be sold.  In short, a false market born of governmental barriers to entry was created in New York.  This barrier to trade was all to help the medallion holders, not the consumer.

Consumers logically want as much competition for their dollars as possible.  NYC medallion-holders obviously felt differently.  Precisely because their market was protected from entry, medallioned cab drivers could maintain messy cars, and often drive in ways inimical to passenger comfort.  What they charged was dictated by the TLC, as opposed to market forces.  Why not? For the most part they were the only game in town.

Worse is what Jared Meyer noted in his 2016 book, Uber Positive.


  Even though New York City’s population had risen quite a bit since 1937, the number of medallions didn’t increase to reflect the population growth.  Instead, the number of circulated medallions for the not-so-ubiquitous Yellow Cabs has declined from 16,900 to 13,437.

And while it’s unlikely that he was the first New York mayor to favor medallioned drivers, Meyer adds that socialist leaning Mayor Bill De Blasio attained campaign funding from cab moguls wedded to the medallion system.


 They were as one would expect not fans of Uber and others like it. De Blasio's calls to slow Uber's growth were meant to protect the established taxi cartel to the detriment of consumers.

Source: FORBES

Saturday 2 June 2018

DENVER (Reuters) - A driver with the ride-sharing service Uber was arrested on Friday for suspicion of first-degree murder after Denver police said he fatally shot a passenger in his vehicle.

Michael Andre Hancock, 29, was being held without bond in the Denver County jail pending the formal filing of charges, according to jail records. It was unclear if he had legal representation.

According to a Denver Police probable cause affidavit, on Friday morning a man later identified as Hancock told a motorist on the side of a highway that he had just shot a rider who tried to attack him.

Police found a sedan stopped perpendicular to traffic on a ramp and a man with gunshot wounds lying on the floor board of the front passenger seat, the affidavit said.

The Denver Medical Examiner’s Office identified the dead man as Hyun Kim, 45.

Police said they removed a semi-automatic pistol from Hancock’s waistband, and later recovered 10 spent 40-caliber cartridges on the shoulder of the highway. Hancock was arrested, but police did not provide further details.

Uber said in a statement that it was “deeply troubled” by the arrest of Hancock, a contract driver with the company for nearly three years.

“Our thoughts are with the families of those involved. The driver’s access to the app has been removed, and we will continue working closely with police,” Uber said.

San Francisco-based Uber Technologies Inc has faced criticism over its vetting of drivers.

Last November, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission fined Uber $8.9 million for allowing 57 people to drive for it although they lacked valid driver’s licenses or had committed other offenses that should have disqualified them.

https://reut.rs/2ss88yc

----------------------------------------

TURKEY BAN UBERK

  President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan signaled on Friday that Turkey will join several other European countries that have banned the ride-hailing service, saying that "the Uber controversy is over."

"This Uber business that came about, it's over. There's no such thing anymore," Erdoğan said at an iftar program in Yenikapı for the Turkish Association of Private Buses.

"We have a taxi system," he said, adding that a personal taxi system would not be allowed to destroy the business of Turkish taxi drivers.

"We will be the ones to make the decision [on Uber]," the president said.

Turkey is not the only place where Uber's push for a global expansion while giving short shrift to local rules about workers rights and taxi licenses created disputes. Uber has been banned or forced to leave the markets in Bulgaria, Denmark and Hungary. It has limited service in France, Italy, Germany, Japan, and Taiwan.

A German regional court in Frankfurt ruled in September 2014 that Uber drivers must have commercial licenses to operate in Germany, leading the company to pull out of operations in several German cities. It now operates only a limited set of services in Berlin and Munich.

A French court fined Uber 800,000 euros ($957,000) in June 2016 for running an illegal taxi service with amateur drivers and slapped smaller fines on two executives in the first such criminal case against it in Europe. Uber's licensed private hire services remain popular in Paris.

Uber has also lost its license in London, although it is still operating there pending appeal, while its self-driving car program in the United States suffered a major blow with a deadly accident.

Meanwhile, Uber's operations in Turkey have sparked growing controversy, with taxi drivers protesting against what they say is unfair competition and illegal business practices by the ridesharing service.

Uber drivers in Istanbul had already been hit with 18.92 million lira ($4.20 million) in fines by Turkish police in the first five months of this year.

The 17,400 official yellow taxis in Istanbul are a pillar of the city's often patchy transport system, but critics say that poor quality service and overcharging have given Uber an opportunity.

http://bit.ly/2HfVmHD


Comment: It appears Plate values have risen by nearly 7% in two days since this ban was announced 

 http://bit.ly/2Jqrg9D

-----------------------------------------------

SANDWELL

MORE than 40 taxi drivers in Sandwell have had licenses either revoked or refused renewal for a variety of offences in the last 12 months – including one who used a coffee cup lid for a petrol cap.

In addition some 60 drivers had their licences suspended with immediate effect in the same period, a report before the borough’s licensing committee has revealed.

In total, members of the committee dealt with 125 licensing cases during 2017-18 , including one driver who used a coffee cup lid to to replace his lost petrol cap.

That driver’s license was suspended for six months and his taxi was immediately taken off the road.

Council officers used their powers to suspend three drivers with immediate effect on the grounds of public safety due to having committed or being investigated for criminal offences of a serious nature.

They also suspended 20  drivers whose Disclosure and Barring Service certificates – criminal history checks – had expired.

In addition, 37 drivers had their license suspended for medical reasons.

Councillor Bob Piper, chairman of the Licensing Committee, in a forward to a report to be discussed by councillors on June 1, said: “The committee has considered 125 individual matters relating to the grant or review of Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing throughout the year covering a wide variety of issues.

“The committee works with the Taxi Licensing Office to ensure that all laws, conditions and obligations in respect of regulation and public safety are complied with.”

He added:  “In order to maintain the integrity of the service, it is essential that members of the public can feel confident and safe when using Private Hire Vehicles and Hackney Carriages in Sandwell.

“I am confident that the decisions made by the committee make travelling in a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle a safe and comfortable experience with competent drivers who fulfil the council’s essential requirements.”

http://bit.ly/2LO7SSt 

---------------------------------------------

 BIRMINGHAM

 A coroner has called for drug testing to be carried out on licensed taxi drivers after six people died in a city centre horror crash.

Louise Hunt, coroner for Birmingham and Solihull, voiced her concerns at an inquest into the Belgrave Middleway tragedy, on Tuesday.

Birmingham Coroners Court heard how Audi driver Kasir Jehangir lost control of the vehicle as he was trying to negotiate a bend between Lee Bank Middleway and Belgrave Middleway, before crashing into an oncoming taxi.

Taxi driver Imtiaz Mohammed, 33, was killed alongside passengers Lucy Davis , 43, and her partner Lee Jenkins, 42, after the Audi S3 crashed into them.

Three of the occupants inside the Audi S3, driver Kasir Jehangir, 25, Mohammed Fahsha, 30, and Tauqeer Hussain, 26, died at the scene.

The occupants of the Audi had all smoked cannabis at some time prior to their deaths, the inquest heard.
Lucy Davis, 43, and Lee Jenkins, 42. Family photo.

A toxicology report was also carried out on taxi driver, Imtiaz Mohammed’s body. A small amount of cocaine was in his system, which the toxicologist believed was consumed within 12 hours previous to the crash.

Coroner Louise Hunt said the drugs found in Imtiaz Mohammed's system were not to blame.

However, Mrs Hunt told the inquest she will now write to Sandwell Borough Council, where taxi driver Imtiaz Mohammed was licensed to, as well as Birmingham City Council recommending regular checks on licensed taxi drivers.

She said: “I am concerned about Mr Mohammed’s toxicology and I will write to Birmingham City Council to see what monitoring can be done on taxi drivers in the future."

Mrs Hunt said no blame was attributed whatsoever to Mr Mohammed for the crash but said she had to write to the authorities because of the drugs found in his system.

http://bit.ly/2JeraPb 


 
Aberdeen International Airport has launched its own taxi service to transport plane passengers on the final leg of their journey.

Senior staff believe that running the service themselves, in conjunction with the airport’s car park management firm, will allow them to “manage it more closely”.

Until yesterday, the airport had contracted Dyce-based Comcab to ferry passengers into the city following their flights.

Travel services manager, Jemma Forrest, explained that the new approach had “partially” been influenced by feedback from customers.

She said: “We want the passenger experience to be as positive as possible and we know that having access to taxis on arrival at the airport is important for our customers.”

“We look forward to ensuring the current and future needs of our passengers are met.”

The Airport Parking Corporation of America (Apcoa) manages car parking at the site and will help to oversee the new arrangements.

Aberdeen councillors had previously quarrelled with airport bosses for imposing a controversial £2 drop-off charge on drivers.

Kingswells, Sheddocksley and Summerhill councillor, Steve Delaney, last night said he would adopt a “wait and see” attitude towards the taxi changes.

The Liberal Democrat said: “The airport has clearly taken a commercial decision here, but my only interest is that the new service provided is of sufficient quality.

“There is nothing worse than arriving from a flight and finding that you can’t get a taxi.

“We will keep an eye on how the travelling public respond to it.”

Mr Delaney suggested the move could also play a small part in making sure the city is a more visitor-friendly place, amid efforts to boost tourist income.

A spokeswoman for Comcab said the firm was legally unable to comment on the contract changing hands.

The change only applies to the “walk-up” service, and customers who pre-book taxi transport with other firms can continue to do so.

The drivers used by the airport will be self-employed, but with a “commitment” towards serving people leaving the building.

A spokesman added: “That is the business they want, rather than city business.”

Other operators can be drafted in, if needed at especially busy times.


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BURY

 A man who died in a house fire in Bury has been named as taxi firm boss David Herricks.

The Magnum Whiteline owner, understood to be in his 50s, was found dead at home on Dumers Lane in Radcliffe in the early hours of Friday.

He was the only person at the house when the fire started.

Police, firefighters and paramedics were called to the blaze at an end terrace property at around 12.39am.

The fire began in the living room. The cause is not yet known. Police have ruled out any suspicious circumstances.

Firefighters remained at the scene for around an hour and forty minutes.

Crews from Bury, Whitefield and Broughton stations in specialist breathing gear tackled the flames.

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