DUBLIN. TAXI Hi JACKING INCREASES

Gardaí are investigating an attempted car-jacking in Dublin this morning.
The incident happened just before 3am when three men who were travelling in a taxi from Tallaght ordered the driver to get out of the car.

The taxi driver managed to take the keys from the ignition and run towards James Street, where he alerted gardaí.

It is understood no one sustained any serious injuries.
Gardaí recovered the car and investigations are continuing.

No arrests have been made.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/dublin-taxi-driver-grabs-keys-runs-from-carjackers-633441.html

http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/behind-the-news-eoin-candon-taxi-driver-1.1831474
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Free taxi rides home for England fans in Birmingham

Football fans in Birmingham are being offered free taxi rides home after England's World Cup match tonight.

A taxi firm based in the city will have five cabs at the Colmore Row rank between 1am and 2am as part of an anti-drink-driving campaign run by Think!

The government run campaign has found that three-quarters of fans in Birmingham are planning to drink alcohol during the game against Italy, but a sixth have not worked out how they are getting home afterwards.

Bosses say hope the initiative will remind fans not to drink and drive.
http://www.itv.com/news/central/update/2014-06-14/free-taxi-rides-home-for-england-fans-in-birmingham/?
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SKEGNESS

Taxi drivers are in dispute over who can pick up and drop off passengers at Skegness Railway Station.
East Lindsey District Council (ELDC) has written to drivers reminding them only those who pay for permits with East Midlands Trains (EMT) can use the rank at the station’s main forecourt.

A driver working from the rank said: “We pay to serve customers walking off trains, why should other taxis poach our customers?”

Some drivers believe this ruling is unfair on those who don’t pay the £375 annual permit; accepting they can’t tout trade, but feel they should be allowed to use it if private customers request their service.

Dave Daubney, of Dave’s Taxis, said: “If customers approach us at that rank, we direct them to the driver’s ranked there, if private customers call us to the station, I can’t see the problem.”

Some driver’s also claim they get unnecessarily caught in traffic on the one-way system, having to drop off at the rear entrance.

Mel, of Mel’s Taxis, said: “The back entrance is used as an emergency exit and we are blocking it off, EMT are thinking more about the drivers than their passengers.”

ELDC say drivers without permits must only use the rear of the station on Richmond Drive and if approached by station staff, must provide the name of the person the booking is for. If this isn’t provided, drivers will be asked to move on and may be liable for police action.

http://www.skegnessstandard.co.uk/news/local/taxi-rift-at-the-railway-station-1-6118387
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Spot checks find faults in half of Reading's cabs and private hire vehicles

Of the nine Reading vehicles, one had two bald tyres, no road tax disc displayed and an insecure bumper
Reading Borough Council licensing officers and Thames Valley Police carried out a joint operation in Palmer Park last month.

Over a four-hour period starting at 8am on Monday, May 12, they pulled in nine vehicles licensed by Reading Borough Council and a further five from out-of-town areas.

Of the nine Reading vehicles, one had two bald tyres, no road tax disc displayed and an insecure bumper.

The driver received penalty points on his licence and the vehicle was suspended from further use until the faults were put right.

The other faults and penalties for Reading-licensed vehicles were as follows:

- For damage to a front wing and a damaged fire extinguisher, the driver received penalty points and the vehicle was suspended from use.

- For an insecure protective rubber gaiter on the steering rack, the vehicle was suspended.

- For an improperly secured licence plate and an out-of-date fire extinguisher, the vehicle was suspended.

- For two worn suspension arm bushes on his vehicle, the driver was given five days to replace them.

- For a tyre worn and very near the legal limit, the driver was warned and told the vehicle would be checked again in five days.

One of the out-of-town vehicles had an expired hackney carriage licence plate and no hackney carriage or private hire badge.

This vehicle was not registered with the DVLA to this driver.

Police and licensing officers from areas outside Reading will take appropriate action on the following issues found on out-of-town vehicles:

- One had no hackney carriage badge displayed.

- One had a time-expired fire extinguisher.

- A hackney carriage whose licence plate was not securely attached and displayed on the rear windscreen and brake pads close to the legal limit.

- Another black cab was not displaying a hackney carriage vehicle licence plate.

In an unrelated court case, on Thursday, May 29, at Reading Magistrates Court, Mohammed Asghar, a previously licensed private hire driver, admitted three offences of plying for hire, using a vehicle without the appropriate private hire licence plate and driving without insurance.

Asghar, 23, of Hazel Crescent, Whitley, was fined £120 for plying for hire, £120 for using the vehicle without a licence plate and £200 and a licence endorsement for having no insurance.

He was also disqualified from driving for six months.

Councillor Paul Gittings, lead councillor for culture, sport and consumer services, said: “We take the safety of residents who use hackney carriages and private hire cars extremely seriously, and this is why we work with other agencies to carry out regular spot checks on these vehicles.

“Whilst we know that most drivers comply with the terms of their licences and with the law, we are committed to taking appropriate action against any who fail to do so.”

http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local-news/spot-checks-find-faults-half-7248733
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