FLORENCE

"Talk about Smart City means first urban mobility in Florence will bring to 250 the charging stations for electric vehicles and in a few years all taxis will be electric." He said Dario Nardella, deputy mayor of Florence, speaking at the first stage of the Smart City tour in Florence.

http://firenze.repubblica.it/cronaca/2014/04/04/news/palazzo_vecchio_e_enel_costruiscono_la_smart_city-82751855/?
-----------------------------------------------------
GRANGEMOUTH

A convicted killer tried to strangle a taxi driver while he was at the wheel of his vehicle in a bid to rob him of his taking bag.

He got into the private hire vehicle at a taxi rank in Bo’ness and asked to be taken to an address in Grangemouth.

During the journey, Davies, who was previously jailed for nine years for culpable homicide, put a belt around 60-year-old William McDonald’s neck and made a bid to throttle him.

However, the driver managed to bring his taxi to a halt in Esslemont Road, Grangemouth and a struggle broke out as Davies tried, but failed, to grab the takings.

Mr McDonald then opened the rear door, seized the accused and ejected him before driving off.

At the High Court in Edinburgh today Davies admitted assaulting and trying to rob Mr McDonald while he was working as a taxi driver by demanding money, attempting to strangle him with a belt in a moving vehicle, biting him and struggling with him on July 31 last year.

The court heard that unemployed Davies, of Clydesdale Street, Bo’ness, had 45 previous convictions, including culpable homicide, assault, fire-raising, public disorder and drugs.

Judge Lady Scott deferred sentence on Davies until next month and ordered a background report be prepared looking at the risk he poses.
----------------------------------------------------
DERBY

TAXI drivers who cannot speak English well enough to pass Derby's "knowledge" test have allegedly been registering in Gedling instead.

To become a driver in Derby, you have to take a tough exam which tests knowledge of places and routes in the city.

But taxi drivers who have already achieved the grade say others unable to do so are registering in Gedling and coming and then taking customers in Derby.

They say some drivers go to Gedling Borough Council because getting a licence there has not involved taking a knowledge test about the local area.

Mark Keenan, manager of Derby-based Western Cars, said some drivers "don't understand the language well enough to pass the knowledge test in Derby so they go elsewhere".

Derby City Council says there is a public safety issue to Hackney carriage drivers getting their licences outside the city.

This is because it has no powers to do safety checks on the vehicles and drivers, the cabbies do not have to comply with the city council's conditions and the authority has no powers to investigate complaints against them.

And the practice has meant Gedling gets the benefit of the licence fees.

Mr Keenan said his private hire firm did not employ drivers not licensed in the city.

Mr Keenan said: "I'm upset for the drivers of Derby. They are paying good money to go through stringent tests here.

"Then these people are disrupting their living – coming through the back door by getting easier licences from other places. I have every sympathy for the council. Their hands are tied."

Mr Keenan said he believed that there could be "80 to 100" drivers with licences from outside Derby operating in the city at any one time.

He said he had heard of people travelling to Gedling for a licence from as far away as Portsmouth – 200 miles away.

http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Derby-cabbies-avoiding-stiff-test-city-passing/story-20907815-detail/story.html#ixzz2xrCHUeUM
-----------------------------------------------------
NEWCASTLE

A MAN has appeared in court accused of sex attacks on two females who wrongly thought his car was a taxi.

Sail Uddin faces two charges of sexual assault and one of possessing amphetamine.

The 41-year-old, of Churchill Street, Hendon, was not asked to enter pleas during a short hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, where he appeared via videolink to HMP Durham, yesterday.

He will be back in court on May 14 for a plea and case management hearing.

Judge Paul Sloan QC remanded Uddin in custody. No application for bail was made. during the hearing.

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/local/all-news/sunderland-man-in-court-accused-of-sex-attacks-after-taxi-mix-up-1-6475950
-----------------------------------------------------
LEICESTER

A bogus taxi driver who terrified passengers by swerving across motorway lanes and appearing to fall asleep at the wheel has been banned from driving and given a suspended jail sentence.

A court heard Hamza Afzal Sacranie was reported by a woman passenger who abandoned a trip back from Gatwick airport.

Sacranie (24) of Broadway Road, Leicester, terrified passengers so much that they ordered him to stop the Ford Galaxy at a motorway services last June.

They rang the police saying he was a danger on the road.

Checks of the registration and other details revealed Sacranie wasn't licensed to be a taxi driver at all, and the vehicle wasn't insured or licensed for private hire use.

Leicester Magistrates were told on April 2 that when the taxi arrived at the airport for the pick up, its seats were not in the correct position and not all the passengers had seatbelts.

The court heard the complainant and her fellow passengers felt very unsafe during the journey as Sacranie appeared to be falling asleep at the wheel and the vehicle swerved across the carriageway of the motorway.

After persuading Sacranie to stop at a hotel, the complainants noticed that he didn’t have any licence plates on his vehicle. When they pointed this out to him he claimed he'd forgotten to put them on.

The passengers refused to pay him and made alternative arrangements to get home.

Sacranie had claimed to be the owner of a company called S7ven Seat.

But checks revealed that neither the vehicle nor the company had a licence allowing them to trade as a private hire provider.

The court heard how he had previously applied to Leicester City Council for a taxi driver licence in October 2011 but had been refused after failing to meet the required standards.

He had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to five offences which included acting as a taxi driver and using a vehicle as a private hire vehicle without a licence, operating as a private hire operator without a licence, fraud and driving without insurance.

He was given a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

He was also disqualified from driving for a year and ordered to pay £759 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

After the hearing Leicester assistant city mayor for culture, heritage, leisure and sport Piara Singh Clair, said: "This case shows the importance of ensuring that journeys are only booked through fully-licensed private hire operators.

"We carry out stringent checks and balances before giving anyone a licence to be a taxi driver, so passengers know they are in safe hands when they book or catch a taxi in the city."
----------------------------------------------------------
EIRE

A MAXIMUM extra fee on taxi passengers paying by credit or debit card will be introduced, as part of a new set of regulations to be introduced next month.

At present, taxi drivers can set their own administration fee for customers who choose to pay by card and can refuse to take a fare under a certain distance.

But under new rules, a flat 5pc fee will be introduced for passengers who pay by plastic and drivers will not be able to reject small fares.

The new regulations will also include mandatory area knowledge tests for drivers with a history of poor local knowledge as well as continuous tax compliance monitoring.

"The taxi market relies on consumer confidence in a safe, reliable and high-quality SPSV (small public service vehicles) service," Public Transport Minister Alan Kelly, who announced the new regulations, said.

"I believe the regulations will ensure consumers will have that confidence in the sector and the taxi drivers that do their jobs professionally will be rewarded by the market."

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/maximum-5pc-fee-for-paying-taxi-fare-by-card-30151164.html
-----------------------------------------------------------
NATIONAL

The use of mobile apps within the Chauffeur and Private Hire industry is being questioned after fears some of them are not legal and any driver downloading one could find themselves uninsured, operating illegally and potentially having their PHV Licence revoked, points on their driving licence and a hefty fine – that’s according to lawyers and major industry trade bodies.

The Licensed Private Hire Car Association (LPHCA) is currently in the midst of lengthy discussions with Transport for London, the Department for Transport and others as it is certain that some apps are categorically breaching not only Private Hire Regulations that cover Minicab, Chauffeur and Executive Drivers and Operators, but are also potentially breaching Taxi regulations.

In the Chauffeur and Executive world, apps can enable customers to book cars, the same applies to taxis, but whilst this is all hi-tech, questions are being asked whether it is legal for the PHV driver and safe for the customer.

The Taxi industry and the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) recently highlighted in its Taxi newspaper that some app providers could be operating in contravention of the laws that regulate the minicab industry.

The LTDA goes on to explain “Some of these apps are in fact ‘metering journeys’ which is absolutely illegal”. Others in the industry have said some apps are effectively ‘street hailing’, which is the domain of taxis only because PHV drivers have not done the ‘Knowledge’ tests that taxi drivers have to undergo to earn the right to become available on the streets.

The LPHCA goes further and a spokesperson told TheChauffeur.com; “PHV Drivers are being seduced into joining a new breed of operators’ that work ‘in the cloud’. Some of these operators in our view are compromising safety because they are not taking the full booking details at the point of booking, which is illegal and has several safety implications.”

“Drivers who receive such bookings via apps are potentially committing a serious offence and compromising themselves and public safety. Operators sit between the travelling public and drivers for good reasons both regulatory and safety.  If a driver is found receiving bookings in such a way these app Operators are likely to ‘walk away’ and deny any liability as they have done in the USA citing their terms and conditions.”

The Association is advising any PHV drivers to take caution before downloading and using some very high profile apps. “Drivers should be aware that they may be aiding and abetting illegal activity, which could put them in the dock and not the app provider”, it warns.

Drivers are being urged to contact their local licensing office to make sure they are operating within the law if they are using apps to generate work. Traditional Private Hire Operators, in light of the serious risks of being associated with unlicensed activities, are likely to dismiss any driver found to be working with rogue apps and may even take legal action if such services are found to have been provided within a company vehicle, which may very well become uninsured.

http://www.thechauffeur.com/industry-bodies-warn-chauffeurs-on-the-use-of-hire-apps/

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

LONDON

Transport for London’s (TfL) Board has agreed a well below inflation taxi fare increase for the coming financial year (2014/15). The 0.7 per cent average increase is the lowest since TfL took over responsibility for licensing taxis in 2000 and will take effect from Saturday 5 April 2014. 

The new fares seek a balance between maintaining income levels for drivers while ensuring passengers still get a fair price for the high quality service provided by the capital’s taxi drivers. The Board approved the changes following consultation by TfL with the taxi trade and others, including London TravelWatch, London Boroughs, London Assembly and London MPs. 
Helen Chapman, TfL’s General Manager of Taxi and Private Hire, said: “This year’s increase in taxi fares is the lowest since TfL took on responsibility for licensing taxis and seeks to cover any changes in the costs of running a black cab while continuing to provide passengers with value for money.

“As part of our ongoing commitment to licensing a world-class taxi service, we will be conducting a number of reviews over the coming year, including whether increases in taxi fares and tariffs should be introduced at the start of each year, in line with London’s Tube, rail and bus network.”

There will continue to be no extra charges for additional passengers or luggage and all taxis will continue to carry assistance dogs at no extra cost. The Board also approved the extension of a special provision linked to diesel prices. Since July 2008 a special provision has been in place to allow taxi fares to be increased if diesel costs increase drastically.  The Board approved an extension of this provision for the coming year and a 40 pence increase to all taxi fares will be implemented if diesel reaches 175.48 pence per litre.

 
Taxi journeys booked by telephone can be subject to a £2.00 maximum surcharge which has been extended to cover taxi journeys booked using mobile phones, smart phones, mobile applications and online services. This is to ensure consistency for passengers and stops any excessive charges for taxi booking services.

 A further change will see the £4.00 Christmas extra charge automatically added to fares over the festive period from December 2016, which is currently added manually by the driver.

The Board also endorsed a review of card acceptance in taxis as TfL research has indicated that an overwhelming majority of passengers feel that they should be able to pay for any a taxi journey by debit or credit card. There is currently no requirement for all licensed taxis to accept card payments. In addition to the review the existing card payment surcharge will be reduced from the current 12.5 per cent to 10 per cent or £1.00, whichever is greater, to reduce costs to passengers

The Board agreed to review the date when taxi fares and tariffs are reviewed with the possibility of aligning changes with those made on London’s bus, rail and Tube network – so from January each year, rather than April.

LONDON

The all-new British-built and engineered Range Extended Electric (REE) Metrocab has been tested for the first time by London's taxi drivers and Mayor Boris Johnson.

Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) General Secretary Steve McNamara, and London Cab Drivers Club (LCDC) Chairman Grant Davis, visited Metrocab's Surrey testing facility with their respective members to evaluate the Metrocab from a passenger and driver perspective. 

Following static observations the Metrocab was experienced first-hand on the test track and the association members were left impressed by the power delivery, ride quality and handling. 

Steve McNamara commented: "It's a smooth, quiet, electric vehicle. I'm a great fan of them and I think they are the future. Not just because of the emissions and environment but the silence. The worst thing about sitting in London traffic is sitting alongside noisy buses and diesel cars."

Grant Davis added: "Our members drove it today and everyone said they were impressed, amazingly impressed. I think the Metrocab gives the cab trade in London a great new future."

London Mayor Boris Johnson said: "It's superb, an absolutely beautiful machine and a masterpiece of British engineering. I have just driven it and it's totally silent. It's the Rolls Royce of taxis and it will do 100mpg."


The Metrocab's REE technology delivers a range of 560km, typically saving a London taxi driver £20-£40 per day based on the average day and night duty cycle in the capital.

------------------------------------------------------
SAN ANTONIO -- It was nearly a standing room only crowd of cab drivers and Lyft drivers that filled a room at downtown’s Municipal Plaza building to address members of the public safety committee.  

The meeting was also attended by San Antonio Police Chief William McManus, who addressed the committee on the city’s standing “Vehicle for Hire” ordinance. 

At issue was Chief McManus sending a cease and desist letter to the rideshare company, Lyft.

Lyft offers car rides to anyone who downloads the app to their smartphone. The passengers pay via a credit or debit car for their ride. Lyft’s signature trait is a large pink mustache adorned on the front of the car. 

The cars are privately owned usually by the driver. 

McManus said car ridesharing companies such as Lyft and Uber violates a city ordinance because companies are not inspected by the city. The driver’s also do not have to undergo background checks by the city.  

Both companies say they implement their own checks on their employees. 

Most of the cab drivers presented held handmade signs that read, “Support Your Local Cab Drivers.”

The concern is the adoption of Lyft and Uber in San Antonio will heavily cut into taxi cab profits. 

"What would Dr. Martin Luther King have said about that?” asked one cab driver who spoke. “I tell you what he would have said…Shame on you, shame on you, shame on you for embracing a bigoted, outdated business model.”

It was a shot at how the Lyft app rates drivers and drivers can rate passengers. 

"What If I don’t have a smart phone or a social media account or a credit card,” said John Bouloubasis to the committee. “I cannot ride. You're discriminating in a class of people.”

Leandre Johns, a spokesperson for Uber, says the controversy is nothing new to the company. 

"When you have new technology coming in, you have new ideas coming in you’re going to have opposition to it and that's what we've seen in every city that we've been in,” Johns said. 

Supporters of the rideshare companies say this falls right into place for what Mayor Castro has dubbed “City on The Rise” mantra. 

"If we are truly a city on the rise, a great city, a Google Fiber city,…we need as many tools in our tool box as we can when it comes to transportation," said Luke Holland representing LOOP, Leadership Organization of Professionals. 

"April is historically on the road in our area. The Launch of both Lyft and Uber marked a new triumph for the city and its fight against drunk and impaired driving - a costly act that saw more than 25,000 alcohol related accidents last year,” said Thea Setterbo. 

At the end of the discussion, Councilman Mike Gallagher was most vocal in saying he did not support any amendment what would make the current ordinance “weaker.”

The ordinance has been in place for more than 30 years. 

“We will look to see what is going on with other cities and what they are trying to rectify the issue and we'll come back to you in 60 days or if you want, we can do 30 days,” McManus said. 


Until any changes happen, McManus says police will still arrest Lyft drivers.

------------------------------------
Dudley.

THE first of a number of changes to taxi regulations in Dudley borough have come into force.

Hackney carriages now have to display door stickers showing the council’s logo.

Under measures agreed earlier this year by the council’s taxis committee door stickers have from April 1 become compulsory for hackney carriages and from June 1 private hire vehicles and hackney carriage vehicles will be allowed to be any colour.


People should report hackney carriages in Dudley which are failing to show the correct door stickers by calling the council's licensing team on 01384 815377.

---------------------------------------------
Edinburgh

CONTROVERSIAL plans to install CCTV cameras in taxis across the Capital are set to become reality.

The city council is expected to agree “in principle” to the idea when a report goes before the regulatory committee tomorrow.

Objections have been made that the cameras would constitute an “invasion of privacy”, with some couples arguing for the right to “canoodle” in the back seat without having to worry they are being watched.

But this has been dismissed by Tony Kenmuir, director of Central Taxis, who said: “People should not be behaving like that anyway in a privately owned vehicle.”

The Edinburgh and Lothian Taxi Partnership has been campaigning for the cameras for several years in a bid to cut down incidents ranging from disputes over fares to verbal or physical abuse against drivers.

Mr Kenmuir said the cameras would also help protect passengers, including women and vulnerable children.

He said: “Most people think of us picking up shoppers, running business people about and picking up revellers at night but we do a lot of others things.

“Our major contract is with the council and we are regularly driving unaccompanied and vulnerable children from foster homes to care homes. We also do things for the NHS, often driving around with sensitive materials and urgent prescriptions.

“There are a lot of sensitive situations involving taxis.

“Occasionally people do make spurious accusations that the driver did this or did that and to some extent we want to protect the driver.

“We have people trying to burst out without paying and people being highly abusive. If anything, my view is that CCTV is as much – if not more so – for the benefit of the passenger.”

Kevin Wood, chairman of Central Taxis, said he supported the idea because it provided protection for both customers and drivers.

But he insisted that footage had to be the property of the council or the police, and that drivers should not have access to any of the recordings.

Under the plans, sound recordings could also be made but it is understood that drivers would have to inform passengers before the system was activated.

Guidance from the Information Commissioner’s Office states that CCTV “must not be used to record conversations between members of the public, as this is highly intrusive and unlikely to be a justified infringement of their right to privacy”. However, the report also said that audio recording would be justified in “certain circumstances”, including instances when a taxi’s panic button is flipped.

Councillor Gavin Barrie, convener of the regulatory committee, said: “There is a report going to committee tomorrow recommending that the council agrees in principle to consult on whether licence holders should be allowed to fit such cameras to their vehicles, subject to certain conditions.”

SAFEGUARDS would be put in place to make sure recorded images were not misused.

The council would pay for administrative and operational costs for inspecting the vehicles which would be recovered by a one-off £50 inspection fee.

If approved, black cab drivers and private hire cars across the Capital would be given the choice of having them installed but stickers would inform passengers they were being filmed.


The proposals will be subject to a six-month consultation period.

---------------------------------------
Wolverhampton

A passenger stole a taxi in the Midlands and drove it to London before leading police on a high-speed chase around the streets of the capital, a court has heard.

Louis Anglin, of Willenhall, grabbed the driver from behind before taking off in the £13,500 car and driving it more than 120 miles.

Anglin, aged 20, of Littleton Road, was jailed for two years.

Wolverhampton Crown Court was told that he had been picked up by the taxi just after 6am on January 25 from the Grosvenor Casino in Walsall.

Mr Robert Edwards, prosecuting, told the court that the taxi driver had turned the car around when Anglin began acting suspiciously.

He said: "They were heading towards Willenhall when Anglin asked the driver if he could stop to pick up a friend.

"He also asked if there were any weapons in the car, so he decided to turn around and go back to the casino."

He said Anglin grabbed the driver who had got out of the car to run away and tried to take the car keys with him.

Mr Edwards said: "He couldn't grab the keys and and Anglin got into the drivers seat and drove the car away."

He was later spotted by an automatic number plate recognition camera in Tower Hamlets in London which alerted the Metropolitan Police, Mr Edwards said.

"The police had their blue lights and sirens on and he immediately stopped," he said.

"The vehicle then completed a u-turn and drove off. The vehicle was seen to undertake cars and drive at speeds of 60 miles per hour in built up areas."

Miss Sarah Allen, for Anglin, said: "He is a 20 years old, and still a young man who has managed to rack up quite a number of previous convictions.

"He has some difficulty with authority. The way he acts is impulsively and poorly.

"It is difficult for him to see a way forward. He will be moved from a youth offenders to an adult prison and that may be something that changes him."

Anglin admitted robbery, dangerous driving and driving with no insurance or license.

Judge Michael Challinor sentenced him to 18 months for the robbery and six months for the dangerous driving. He was given no separate penalty for the other two offences, but was banned from driving for two years.

Judge Challinor said: "You have an unexplained difficulty with authority figures. You are a dangerous young man but you have your whole life ahead of you.


"Stop losing your temper and being impulsive and begin to live a proper and industrious life which you are clearly capable of."
-------------------------------------
Lochaber drivers fail to stop taxi fare hike

A CONTROVERSIAL taxi fare hike in the Highlands has been imposed by licensing chiefs – despite dozens of Lochaber drivers demanding the brakes be put on the move.

Passengers will have to fork out an extra 30p, regardless of the distance travelled, when they are first picked up by taxis in the “flag fall” – the initial amount on the meter.

It is currently £2.50, £3 and £3.60 for weekdays, nights and weekends and festive holidays, respectively.

The new rate, which was agreed by the Highland Licensing Board on Tuesday, will come into effect from May 26.

An increase in the cost of outward journeys for hires starting three miles or more away from the taxi or its home base, whichever is the nearest, was also ratified. It will go up from £6.50 to a maximum of £7.50.

More than 40 taxi drivers in Lochaber had objected to the price increase and called for drivers in rural locations to be licensed separately from Inverness.

They said they were struggling to attract passengers and warned the fare hike was not in their interest.

But board convener Maxine Smith said the Lochaber drivers had the flexibility to offer a cheaper rate to passengers if they wanted to. Taxi operators can charge any fare, provided it does not exceed the maximum provided for in the tariff.

The Inverness Taxi Alliance had suggested a revised tariff in line with that charged by Perth and Kinross Council, but Councillor Smith said it wanted to limit price increases because the economic climate was still challenging.

“There has been a lot of press coverage and a representation from Lochaber taxis who feel they don’t want an increase at all,” said Councillor Smith. “I think it is reasonable given that there are still some austerity measures and this is not as expensive for the public as suggested by the Inverness Taxi Alliance. Lochaber can do what they want to make it more palatable to their customers.”

Committee member and Lochaber councillor Allan Henderson said he had “no problem” with the fare change because there was scope for drivers in his area to charge less.

The fare increases are the first in 18 months.

The committee had insisted it had considered the costs of operating taxis like fuel and vehicle maintenance.

There are 786 licensed taxi drivers in the region.

A small working group, comprising senior board members, was set up to hold regular meetings with taxi groups to debate issues like pricing in future.

New York

A heartless hack mowed down a Taxi and Limousine Commission lieutenant during a Queens car stop Sunday afternoon dragging her body down the street before speeding away, police and a commission spokesman said.

The unidentified city official, working alongside a male inspector, had tried to question the cabbie near the corner of Sutphin Blvd. and Archer Ave., in Jamaica, at around 1:20 p.m.

She and her co-worker were hunting for drivers illegally picking up passengers near the bustling Jamaica Station Long Island Railroad transit hub when they spotted the reckless cabbie trying to score a street hail.

“They saw some suspicious activity,” said TLC spokesman Allan Fromberg. “The driver, with the passenger door open, put the car in reverse. He struck the female lieutenant and dragged her an indeterminate amount of feet.”

FDNY medics rushed the bleeding woman to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. She was listed in non-serious condition suffering from head lacerations, police said.

Cops were looking for the driver late Sunday afternoon classifying the case as a hit-and-run.

Only green and yellow cabs can pick up street hails throughout the  five boroughs. Livery drivers are required to use a dispatch system to schedule rides with their passengers.

Fromberg described the injured lieutenant as a recently promoted employee who had been assigned to the agency’s training unit.

http://tinyurl.com/nkme5og
---------------------------------------------

Glasgow City Council says the action is a response to complaints about drivers parking illegally, stopping buses from pulling in and contributing to congestion and pollution in the city.

But taxi bosses say the problem is further evidence more taxi ranks are needed in the city centre.

Stephen Flynn, vice chairman of Glasgow Taxis Ltd, said there is insufficient space for taxis to safely stop and passengers to congregate.

He said existing ranks are not fit for purpose, with one too short and another on the wrong side of the road, and he renewed calls for extra capacity in Glasgow.

Mr Flynn said: "This move by the council serves to once again highlight that urgent need for additional rank space for those taxis serving the city around the clock to help keep people safe.

"This is something which we are currently lobbying for as it is clear there is insufficient rank capacity in Glasgow as things stand."

He added: "Even the ranks that we have at present are not fit for purpose as, for example, one particular seven-vehicle stand in the city is only actually able to accommodate five taxis.

"Equally, the proposed replacement for our Dundas Street rank - should the prospective Queen Street station redevelopment take place - is space on the wrong side of George Street which would lead to wheelchair-user ­passengers having to access our taxis from the middle of the road rather than from the safe position of a pavement.

"Overall, what we would really welcome is more support from the council as we strive to serve Glasgow, its people and its visitors.

"More rank space would certainly help."

Anyone who stops in a bus stop can expect a £30 parking fine, rising to £60 if not paid in 14 days.

Glasgow Taxis Ltd manage two-thirds of black taxis in the city.

Mr Flynn added: "For avoidance of doubt, Glasgow Taxis Ltd encourages all of its members and drivers to ensure they park responsibly and legally when driving their vehicles.

"We certainly don't want to add to the congestion and pollution in the city centre and we would hope that we can enjoy sufficient space for our taxis to rank.

"This would not only serve the travelling public and provide visitors to our city with safe identifiable places to go for a taxi, it would also help make the city centre a safer, cleaner place."

A council spokesman said: "We would urge Glasgow Taxis to continue to take its responsibilities seriously and make it absolutely clear to its drivers they have to park legally and responsibly.

"Regrettably there continue to be too many instances of drivers parking illegally which contributes to congestion and pollution in the city centre.

"Their disregard for other road users and illegal parking means that buses often can't use a number of bus stops and puts bus passengers in danger by forcing them on to the road.

"This also causes further congestion as less traffic can pass buses.

"We will continue to engage positively with Glasgow Taxis and other stakeholders.

"In the meantime, however, we will continue to crack down on those who park illegally."


http://tinyurl.com/opv8tmh

Three Calderdale men have been given jail sentences totalling more than 36 years after UK Border Agency officers uncovered a £1m heroin smuggling operation.

The trio were said to have played leading or significant roles in the well-organised operation which saw regular consignments of the Class A drug being delivered to addresses in Halifax over a seven-month period.

One of those jailed was Baber Khan, who was working as a taxi driver in Elland.

The operation only came to an end after officers at Heathrow Airport intercepted a crate labelled as ‘’handicrafts’’ from Pakistan and discovered 1.73 kilograms of heroin concealed in the hollowed out wooden struts of the container.

Bradford Crown Court heard that if the 51% pure heroin had been "cut’’ to street deals it would have been worth an estimated £441,000.Border Agency officers estimated that and other consignments totalled more than £1m.

The crate had been destined for a house in Blackwood Grove, Halifax, but instead officers carried out an early morning raid on the premises in May 2012 and arrested 30-year-old taxi driver Baber Khan, who was working for Elland Taxis.

Inquiries into mobile phone records linked "similar" deliveries to the other addresses in the same area of Halifax in the preceding months.

Prosecutor Stephen Wood said another consignment marked as "dinner set wooden show pieces" had been delivered to an address in Dyson Street, Halifax, back in November 2011 and records showed a further three deliveries between January 2012 and April 2012 to homes in Highfield Terrace, Bowman Terrace and West View.

Judge Jonathan Rose heard that the other four consignments, which had not been intercepted, could have resulted in heroin worth more than £1 million reaching the streets of West Yorkshire and beyond.

Mr Wood submitted that the heroin smuggling operation, which was running at the rate of almost one consignment a month, would have continued if the crate had not been intercepted at Heathrow.

Married father-of-three Khan, who had worked for Elland Taxis at the time, was found guilty of being involved in the conspiracy to import heroin following a trial last month and he was jailed for15 years.

Judge Rose described heroin as a pernicious and evil drug which blighted the lives of users and had a devastating effect on society.

He noted that Khan, who had no previous convictions, was not himself a heroin user and said his involvement in the conspiracy was the result of greed.

Judge Rose concluded that Khan had played a ‘’leading role’’ in the conspiracy and was towards the top of the organisation at least in the Halifax area.

Tasadaq Hussain, 36, of Bowman Terrace, and 28-year-old Imran Muhammed Ali, of Dyson Road, both pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy to import heroin before Khan’s trial got underway.

Hussain was jailed for a total of 12-and-a-half years after admitting the conspiracy charge and two further offences of possessing heroin with intent to supply.

Father-of-two Ali was sentenced to nine years in jail.

http://tinyurl.com/omsd3r7

FURIOUS taxi drivers in Worcester are taking the city council to the High Court in a bitter dispute over buying new vehicles.

The taxi trade say they face "ruins" because of a new rule which means some drivers must fork out nearly £40,000 to stay on the roads.

Under city council rules, hackney carriage drivers typically need to replace their taxi once it reaches the age of around 12, subject to a mechanic's assessment.

Up until last November, a new vehicle aged up to three years old was deemed acceptable, but a new rule then kicked in which the replacement must be brand new.

Worcester Taxi Drivers Association says the change has infuriated the trade, with many saying they cannot possibly afford new vehicles straight off the production line.

Drivers have clubbed together to raise around £35,000 and have instructed a law firm to start High Court proceedings via a judicial review.

Lesley Borthwick, from the association, said: "In this day and age who can afford £30,000 or more for a brand new taxi?

"We haven't got the money, drivers are scratching around trying to make a living as it is.

"People say 'why don't you get another job' but for us, what other work is out there?

"The difference between a new vehicle and one nearly three years old is around ten grand - we're talking one hell of a difference.

"There are great implications to what the council has done."

The driver's case is being handled by Nolan Licensing Consultants & Advocates, a specialist firm which handles taxi disputes around the country.

Councillor Paul Denham, chairman of the council's licensing committee, said: "I'm very disappointed to hear that's the avenue they are going down.

"As far as I am concerned we are willing to listen to what they have to say - they are taking a tremendous risk in taking it to court.

"In November it was a sort of emergency decision, because we hadn't yet got a cap in place and wanted to do something to help limit numbers."

He said a forum between the taxi drivers and council was taking place on Thursday, and he hoped fresh talks could take place over it.

The city council also says it has yet to receive formal notification of the challenge, and that it could be out of date because three months is the standard cut off time for a judicial review on such a decision.

Last month the council voted through a new rule which means no more cabbies will be allowed a licence until numbers fall sharply.

Worcester currently has 263 hackney carriages, and the cap is set at 230, which means at least 34 must quit before any more are dished out.

Comment; I think the trade are on sticky ground here.
In Wilcock v Lancaster last year, at para 27 it was held that ;

" The Council is entitled to change its policy. It is entitled to act more strictly."

http://1drv.ms/1e07OXa

A Dublin taxi driver who sexually assaulted a passenger has been sentenced to three years in prison, with the final year suspended. Paul Murphy (45), of Glenayle Road, Raheny, was found guilty of sexually assaulting the woman after she hailed a cab in the city centre on November 11th, 2011.

He was caught after the victim pulled insurance documents out of his pocket during the attack, which were later used to track him down.

The court heard Murphy has no previous convictions. Gerardine Small, defending, said her client does not accept the verdict of the jury. She said Murphy was of previous good character and drove a taxi with no complaints for 14 years. He has three children, including a wheelchair-bound son.

Passing sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Patricia Ryan said the assault was a serious breach of trust as Murphy was a taxi driver and the victim was his customer.

Garda Anthony O’Shea told Cathleen Noctor, prosecuting, the victim had been out with a friend on the night at a few city centre venues. She had not had much to drink when she hailed a cab on George’s Street to her home on the north side of the city. She sat in the back of the taxi and there was “normal chat” on the way. 

When she got out of the cab at her home, the driver got out too and said “you look like you need a hug”.
He grabbed her arm and asked her if she wanted to go to the beach. The woman said “no chance”. She asked him what his wife would say, and told him she had to get back to her house as there were people there. Murphy then got her against a wall and tried to kiss her on the mouth, neck and face.

http://tinyurl.com/pok48cv
----------------------------------------------
West Dumbarton.

Police launch inquiry after fight breaks out over control of West Dunbartonshire Taxi Drivers Co-operative in Alexandria.

A taxi row has erupted after a Vale firm’s founder boss diverted customer phonecalls to a rival company.

Stunned committee members of Co-op Taxis in Alexandria say they were left counting the pennies after Stephen Forrest arranged to redirect all calls to Wright’s Taxis.

Confused residents calling the rank were told by a Wright’s operator that the firms had merged — which Co-op members say is rubbish.

A spokesman said: “We are angry because we lost a lot of work and we are trying to work out just how much custom we have lost as a result. Stephen Forrest has not been a director of West Dunbartonshire Taxi Drivers Co-operative Ltd since November 2012.

“Since then Mr Forrest has been engaged in a very self-absorbed and underhand smear campaign against a number of members of the co-operative in a deliberate attempt to undermine the members of the co-operative and to cause much disharmony.”

The phone lines were dead at Co-op Taxis on the morning of Tuesday, March 4 and committee members lifted the diversion that afternoon after contacting BT.

Police are carrying out enquiries and a complaint has been made to West Dunbartonshire Council. Mr Forrest defended the move, claiming the firm, which was set up by sacked drivers, is a “disgrace” and “insult” to its loyal customers.

The cabbie, who claims he was forced out, says he had the right to make the arrangement with BT as the account is in his name. He said: “It is important to let the loyal customers of Co-op Taxis know what ‘the local community taxi office’ has now become.

“As a founder director I was responsible for coining that phrase but the way the company is now run is an insult to the good people who have supported us.”

The warring cabbies are fighting over who has control of the first taxi workers’ co-operative in Scotland.
Co-op Taxis, based in Main Street, was established several years ago after a number of sacked drivers formed a self-managed co-operative.

But founder member Stephen Forrest claims the committee has not held an AGM in 16 months meaning there has been no financial update and no opportunity to vote in a new committee.

He claimed there was an alleged refusal to pick up a regular customer because they had a guide dog, explaining: “As someone who has put a great deal of time and effort into presenting Co-op Taxis as a community spirited taxi office I was appalled at this behaviour.

“Co-op Taxis has enjoyed a great deal of support and good will from local people based on the type of company we were. Sadly, in less than three years the company has become the opposite of what myself and others strived to achieve.”

Mr Forrest says he and another member joined Vale rival Wright’s Taxis after being forced out and insists he was entitled to divert the phone line after considering Co-op’s actions to be contrary to the constitution of the company.

He hoped to take some of the drivers at Co-op and form a merger with Wright’s. A spokesman for Co-op Taxis said Mr Forrest was suspended after he was discovered to be acting as an agent for another taxi operator and allegedly encouraging customers to take their business elsewhere, which Mr Forrest refutes.

He continued: “Having his agenda exposed, Mr Forrest joined this other taxi operator taking with him his two employees. No one was forced out. These comments are intended to be sensationalist and inflammatory and an obvious attempt by Mr Forrest to inflict ill will on the membership of the co-operative.

“The real disgrace here is that Mr Forrest admits to removing the tool that provides the income of 19 taxi drivers and six staff, some of which are on wage subsidies via West Dunbartonshire Council.”
He added: “The full membership would like to reassure the public that allegations made by Mr Forrest are unfounded and that the co-operative values continue to be supported by its members.

“We’d like to thank the public for their continued support and good wishes during these times.”

Allan Wright, who owns Wright’s Taxis, confirmed plans were in place to merge with Co-op Taxis, adding it was now on hold due to police investigations.

He said: “I was led to believe other members had the right to transfer the number to us and that we were going to merge with the original members of the Co-op.”

Leven councillor Jim Bollan has attempted to arrange a meeting between the cabbies.

He said: “It is unfortunate but not uncommon that difficulties seem to have arisen in Co-op Taxis. I will do all I can to ensure the co-op continues to deliver a quality service for local people.”

A Police Scotland spokeswoman confirmed a complaint had been received and an inquiry is ongoing.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Calderdale.

Taxi drivers are making a mockery of a council’s high standards due to a national loophole, a councillor says.

Brighouse Independent Clr Colin Stout has discovered that a number of taxi drivers operating in the town were refused a licence by Calderdale Council as they didn’t meet standards.

But they have been granted a licence by Rossendale Council and are allowed to operate in Calderdale.

Clr Stout said: “This is making a mockery of everything Calderdale has done to improve standards among our taxi drivers, and a mockery of our own drivers who abide by high standards.”

Clr Stout was promoted to investigate after spotting a speeding taxi in the Tesco car park in Brighouse, who told him he was sub-contracted to a local firm.

Clr Stout said: “Rossendale gives licences under different rules to ours, we have a much higher standard.

“We have a NVQ for taxi drivers and we have a local knowledge test and Rossendale don’t.

“We ask all taxis have on a sticker on the door showing which company they belong to but these cars don’t have that.

“We also ban tinted glass.

“I am concerned and have asked for this matter to be listed for discussion urgently.”

He also said cars are subjected to fewer MOT tests than Calderdale requires, and Rossendale Council permits older vehicles to be taxis, while Calderdale has an upper limit of five years.

Clr Stout added: “There’s this loophole in licensing that means if they get refused by one authority they can go to another and try there. I’ve discovered Stockport and Manchester councils have reported the same problems with taxis licensed by Rossendale.


http://tinyurl.com/ostnrpw

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

Dundee.

A man who once helped run Dundee's public transport system claims he was ripped off by a city taxi driver.

Raymond Mennie, who 20 years ago was convener of Tayside Region's roads and transport committee, says a taxi driver sped off without giving him his £15 in change on Friday night.

Mr Mennie (62) is furious about the episode which he has reported to the police, and fumed: ''I am a pensioner living on pension credit and to say that I was irate at the action of this low-down scumbag ... is putting it mildly.

''The taxi fraternity are always complaining about fare dodgers and 'runners' and I hope that they can furnish information at to the identity of this thief.''

One of the responsibilities of the former Whitfield councillor when he chaired the roads and transport committee was taxis and the operation of ranks in the city centre.

When he stepped into a cab in the Nethergate rank on Friday night, his journey home cost him four times as much as he expected.

The taxi stopped at his house in Ashbank Road and Mr Mennie got out by the back door, walked to the driver's window and handed over £20 expecting to get about £15 in change.

He continued: ''The driver promptly took off at some speed and careered into Scott Street without pausing to check that the junction was clear.

''Most annoyingly, he sounded two toots on his horn, having robbed me of my change. My only recollection of the vehicle was that it was a white or light-coloured car.''

He phoned the police but said he was ''given short shrift'' and told there wasn't much that officers could do. Two officers then visited him and gave him the telephone numbers of four taxi operators.

He phoned them but he said they were of no help, ''despite their use of tracking technology to record journey times and routes and the location of their drivers throughout the day.''


http://tinyurl.com/pfsxy4j

Manchester Events April 

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