DUBLIN

A taxi driver who ripped off passengers 280 times by secretly using a remote control to add €9 to fares without their knowledge has been fined €750.

Dublin District Court heard today that the scam unravelled when a tip-off led to one driver, followed by a recall of some 206 other taximeters with which the remote device was compatible.

Judge Anthony Halpin said the amount of over-charging could have been “colossal”.

Robert Griffin, 66, of Maplewood Park, Springfield in Tallaght, Dublin was fined €750 after he pleaded guilty to 280 counts of over-charging, contrary to the Taxi Regulation Act.

He was accused of using a concealed remote control device 20 times a week from February 4 until May 10 this year.

Robert Griffin, 66, of Maplewood Park, Springfield in Tallaght, Dublin leaving the Four Courts after a District Court hearing (Image: Collins Courts)

He was prosecuted following an investigation by the National Transport Authority (NTA), which discovered he covertly topped up the final fare on the taximeters.

The increase was added to the final fare on the completion of passengers’ journeys.

NTA inspector Liam Kavanagh told Judge Anthony Halpin that earlier this year he received information that a number of taxis were over-charging passengers using the remote device which was linked to some meters.

A confidential source led him to a taxi rank at Tallaght Hospital, where the defendant was sitting in his car, he said.

Mr Kavanagh told the court he carried out a routine inspection and found the remote control device in the driver’s door.

He suspected an offence had been committed and advised Griffin to hand it over.

“He admitted he had used the remote control to add extras to taxi fares,” the inspector said.

He was “visibly shaken” and told the NTA official he was not well.

Mr Kavanagh told Judge Halpin he did not want to cause the driver too much upset at the rank and told him they could meet at the NTA inspection centre the following day, “and leave it until emotions had calmed down”.

Griffin agreed and when he went there his meter was inspected by the taxi metrology service. He was cautioned by the inspector and made full admissions that he used the remote device to add to fares.

Mr Kavanagh explained that Griffin kept the remote fixed to the driver’s door with Velcro and as he drove along he pressed it, increasing the fare by €9 per journey.

The court heard some other drivers who used the device had kept it between their legs.

“The scam, for want of a better word, was closed down,” Mr Kavanagh said.

As a result of specific information, Griffin had been targetted but his co-operation was “key” to the success of the operation, shortening it by a number of months, the court was told.

The NTA was aware of the sources of the devices, the court heard.

“The mind boggles,” remarked Judge Halpin after the facts were presented.

The NTA identified 206 taximeters that were sensitive to the remote, the court was told. They have been recalled for new software.

Not all of the recalled meters were linked to criminal offences but, the inspector added, they were all “sensitive to this device”.

In pleas for leniency, the defence said Griffin, a grandfather, had heart issues and other health problems which were of grave concern. He did not give evidence or address the court at his hearing today.

He was not currently working and decided because of his health and this case not to operate a taxi, “and does not know if he will ever go back”, his solicitor told the court.

Griffin offered a full apology and accepted full responsibility, the solicitor submitted.

The offence carried a maximum possible fine of €4,000 and there were 280 counts on the summon, the court was told.

Finalising the case, Judge Halpin said the aggravating feature was the over-charging of people and use of the remote to by-pass the proper measurement of fares by the taximeter.

Griffin had no prior convictions.

The judge said he was loath to look for intervention of the Probation Service because he did not think Griffin would be able to do community service work, so he was imposing a fine.

One feature that helped the accused in the measurement of the sanction was his co-operation with the NTA, the judge explained.

This allowed 206 other taxis to be checked out.

The court did not have evidence that all of them were involved “but”, Judge Halpin said, “many of them were”.

The device deceived people, he also said.

Fining him €750, he noted Griffin’s early guilty plea and he accepted these proceedings gave rise to some of his health problems.

He has six months to pay the fine.

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 EDINBURGH

A man is in a critical condition in hospital after being hit by a taxi in Edinburgh.

The 27-year-old was crossing North Bridge at about 02:00 near a bus stop opposite the Balmoral Hotel when he was knocked down.

He is being treated at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

Sgt Jennifer Forbes, of Police Scotland, said: "We are carrying out inquiries to establish the full circumstances that led to this crash."

"In particular we are keen to speak to anyone who may have dash-cam footage or who was walking in the area at the time.

"We would urge anyone with information who has not yet spoken to police to come forward to help with our investigation."
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CALDERDALE

The rise of Uber has made it harder to ensure taxi passengers are kept safe, a meeting of councillors from across West Yorkshire has been told.

Derek Benn, manager of the Calderdale Community Safety Partnership, said regulating the industry was “complicated”, because of different licensing rules in various parts of the region.

The issue was discussed at a Police and Crime Panel meeting on Friday, at which one Leeds councillor expressed concern about the numbers of serious sexual offences taking place in taxis in Leeds.

Last week it was revealed the number of rapes taking place in private hire vehicles in the city more than doubled between 2015 and 2018.

Quoting those figures Cllr Amanda Carter said they were “absolutely frightening”.

She added: “In Leeds, councillors and MPs have been prohibited from giving references for taxi drivers.

“But what are we doing to protect the vulnerability of young women?”

In response, Mr Benn said that Calderdale was proactive in handling public safety issues, but stressed most taxi drivers are law-abiding citizens.

He added: “This is a complex area, made even more complex by the emergence of Uber.

“Every district does things slightly differently so it’s sometimes difficult to get synergy across districts.

“What I do know is that from my general experience, should we have any information that suggests that the travelling public are at risk, from for example, a taxi driver, positive action is taken.

“I do have to say though that though that the number of taxi drivers is very high. The vast majority are very decent and reliable drivers.

“It’s a very complicated issue and one that does attract a lot of attention.”

Uber was contacted for comment but did not respond.

Councils across the region are in the process of trying to make their licensing rules for taxi drivers more similar, in a bid to avoid discrepancies.