Problem of rogue taxi drivers 'just as bad in Poole', former driver claims

ANOTHER former taxi trade representative has waded into the row over rogue drivers and has claimed: "The situation is no better in Poole."

Mike Gale, an independent driver for 37 years, said his decision to leave the business had been due to a "complete lack of enforcement" by the Borough of Poole and persistent problems with a handful of drivers flouting the rules.

He spoke out after John Tye stood down as the taxi trade representative in Bournemouth, claiming he could no longer represent a trade "of which he was ashamed."

He said a minority of rogue drivers were ripping-off customers, being aggressive to passengers and flouting rules but facing no enforcement action from Bournemouth council.

Mr Gale, who for several years represented independent drivers in Poole, said the situation was no different there.

"Over the last 18 months I've taken photographs of Bournemouth taxis parked on Poole ranks and nothing has been done," he said.

"I quit because I had just about had enough of people getting away with it."

He called for Poole council to introduce "mystery shoppers" to catch rogue drivers and said: "If they had done this during the Sandbanks polo weekend they would have caught numerous offenders.

"All people want to do is go home so you get loads of private hire vehicles stopping to pick up passengers from the street, which they are not allowed to do and not insured to do.

"Unfortunately it feels like nothing will be done until something goes badly wrong."

Nick Phillips, accessibility team leader at the Borough of Poole, said: "There is no evidence to suggest that unlicensed taxi and private hire drivers are being used in Poole and so at present we will not be making use of ‘mystery travellers’.

"We do however co-ordinate enforcement activities with both the Police and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to randomly stop and check taxis in the town.

"These enforcement operations enable both vehicle roadworthiness and driver details to be checked and continue to show that we have an excellent standard of compliance in our town.

"We will investigate any customer complaints about taxi and private hire services and have a progressive enforcement policy if problems do occur. All drivers undergo an additional DVSA driving assessment before licensing and an hour long knowledge test of the roads of the borough, this is on top of a DBS check and medical. This ensures that drivers are of a suitable standard at first licensing and so complaints are therefore rare."

http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/13464666.Problem_of_rogue_taxi_drivers__just_as_bad_in_Poole___former_driver_claims/?ref=rss
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 Taxi driver flashed lights to warn police of drunk motorist « Shropshire Star

A quick-thinking taxi driver alerted police to a drunk driver by flashing his lights as he passed a patrol, a court was told.

As police pulled out to follow the vehicles the taxi driver pulled over, allowing them to tail 21-year-old Matthew Jones as he swerved across lines on the A5.

Jones, of Cresswell Crescent Gabowen, pleaded guilty to driving while under the influence of alcohol when he appeared at Telford Magistrates Court.

He also admitted one charge of failing to surrender to bail having missed his first scheduled court appearance on July 14.

Mrs Katie Price, prosecuting, said Jones had slurred his words when speaking to police after they pulled him over at 2am on June 26.

She said that a taxi driver heading south on the A5 from Chirk had become worried about the way in which the Vauxhall Astra in front of him was being driven and, noticing a police car waiting at the side of the road, began to flash his lights to get their attention.

She said that once officers had got behind Jones’ vehicle they observed it swerving side to side, crossing the white line and over-correcting.

Jones failed a roadside breath tested and later blew a reading of 60 micrograms in 100 ml of breath – the legal limit is 35, she added.

The court was told Jones, a farm worker, was a man of previous good character with no convictions.

He was banned from driving for 17 months and fined £165 plus total prosecution and court costs of £255.

Mr Oliver Nicholas, for Jones, said that his client had “genuinely forgotten about his court date” and had been arrested and held in custody after he had failed to appear in court.

He said that Jones had been to the pub that evening, but had walked to the premises and even walked home, only to find he had been locked out of his house in Gabowen by his parents - and did not have his keys.

Mr Nicholas said Jones had decided to drive the short distance to Oswestry to stay with a friend.

He said his client, who had a young child, would be hit by the ban as he had been looking for work outside the area which would have entailed the use of a car.

“For the sake of driving round to his friend’s to get some sleep, he’s attracted a driving ban, affected his employment and likely some fines as well,” said Mr Nicholas.

http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-news/2015/07/20/taxi-driver-flashed-lights-to-warn-police-of-drunk-motorist/
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UBER AUS.

 A court case testing the legality of UberX's ride-sharing service in Victoria has taken a dramatic turn, with the Taxi Services Commission ambushing a driver inside a courtroom on Monday.

Magistrate Julian Ayers of the Melbourne Magistrates Court was hearing the long-running case between the Taxi Services Commission and 15 UberX drivers who were caught in a sting last August.

The Commission sent a staff member into the courtroom during a break in proceedings to serve Nathan Brenner of Caulfied North with three additional charges. Last August Mr Brenner was charged with operating a commercial passenger vehicle without a licence and has become the lead test case for the courts to determine whether the service is legal here.

Mr Brenner's barrister, Peter Haag, watched the TSC serving his client inside the Magistrate's courtroom and said it was not allowed. The man went outside, returned and then re-read three charges to Mr Brenner, who responded by talking loudly over the man so he couldn't hear the charges. Mr Brenner refused to take the charge sheet, which then lay on the courtroom floor until the matter was adjourned some time later.

The additional charges include being the owner of a commercial passenger vehicle and that vehicle being used without a licence or permit. Being the driver of a commercial passenger vehicle without a licence or permit and driving a commercial passenger vehicle without accreditation.

When court resumed Mr Haag argued serving papers inside a courtroom was not allowed.

"There are common law principals that apply," he said. "I have never seen that happen in 30 years inside a courtroom."

Magistrate Ayers asked the barristers to work out between themselves if charges could in fact be served inside a courtroom. 

"It beggars belief that this could be the subject of serious legal argument in this day and age," he said, adding it was "disappointing" the issue had arisen.

The original charge may now be struck out if "these charges were in on the file", barrister for the TSC, Morgan McLay, told the court. And it was likely 14 other drivers charged in TSC's sting would also be served with additional charges, he said.

The case has already been going for several months and was heard for three days last week with little progress. It continues on Monday afternoon.

UberX drivers use their own cars to ferry passengers around, using the Uber app to find and locate passengers. Uber also operates the legal hire car service Uber Black, with drivers and vehicles that have been accredited by the TSC.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/taxi-commission-ambushes-uberx-driver-inside-melbourne-courtroom-20150720-gig8rh.html