NOTTINGHAM

Taxi drivers have racked up nearly 700 penalty points since a controversial scheme was launched by Nottingham City Council to cut bad behaviour from the trade.

But drivers say officials need to be lenient and allow them more time when dropping people off.

Parking in bus stops, on double yellow lines, and switching off the meter can see taxis issued with penalty points.

Drivers can receive up to 12 points over a three-year rolling period before their licence will be reviewed.

But if they exceed 12 points, action is taken and their licence can be suspended.

The Driver Improvement Penalty Points Scheme (DIPPS) was introduced by the city council on April 1, 2017.

The aim of the scheme was to improve overall driver behaviour, customer service and passenger safety.

Points are handed out by the council's community protection officers (CPOs).

Between April and December in 2017, a total of 301 DIPPS notices were issued, which saw two drivers interviewed. No action was taken in one case and a written warning was issued in the second.

But this number has risen this year as between January and August 2018 where 392 DIPPS notices have been issued and 19 drivers interviewed.

https://goo.gl/HeGUw6 
--------------------------------------------





NEW YORK.

A man fatally shot himself in the head while riding in the back of a yellow cab on the Upper West Side early Sunday morning, police said.

The 30-year-old man got into the taxi at about 2 a.m. near the corner of 93rd Street and Amsterdam Avenue, then pulled out a gun and shot himself once in the head while sitting in the backseat of the car, authorities said.

The driver pulled over and called 911 after the shooting, cops said.

Medics responded to the scene and rushed the man to Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, authorities said.

https://goo.gl/5aAR3S