Taxi Driver Online

Taxi driver fined £70 after overstaying at drop off point to help customer with luggage



Taxi driver Maksim Sobaleu was slapped with a £70 parking fine after over-staying at a drop-off zone by three minutes – because he was helping a customer with his luggage.

The 44-year-old had driven his passenger to Nottingham Railway Station's drop-off point, and got out of his taxi to assist him with his bags.

But four weeks later he discovered he was being fined for staying three minutes too long – even though he had only been there for five minutes.

Mr Sobaleu says the maximum two-minute waiting time is "unfair" – especially if he had been helping a disabled passenger.

He said: "I always want to make sure I give a good customer service, so I will take the luggage out of the boot and help the customer with the bags until they're inside the station if they wish.

"It's impossible to do that in two minutes. And if you have an elderly or disabled person, you can't just leave them. Sometimes I will walk someone right into the station's main entrance if they need me to.

"In two minutes you would literally have to open the door, rip the money from their hands, kick them out and quickly leave."

Mr Sobaleu, a licensed taxi driver with Broxtowe Borough Council, had picked up his passenger from Nottingham University's Jubilee Campus on April 30.

He parked his red Skoda taxi at the drop-off point off Station Road, which leads directly to the back of the station, at 3.10pm.

It wasn't until May 26 that he received the penalty notice.

He has now appealed the charge, but hasn't heard back.

Mr Sobaleu, of Speedway Close, Long Eaton, added: "I understand why they have a maximum time limit, but I didn't abuse the drop-off point – I just did my job and then left.

"Most of the bus stations and airports have a 10 or 15 minute maximum time, which is much more reasonable."

Fellow taxi driver Philip Rigby, 48, also believes the time limit isn't long enough.

He said: "I once dropped off a blind lady and had to escort her up to the main entrance – I didn't get a ticket, but it would have taken me more than two minutes.

"I think it's disgusting that Maksim was given a ticket. They obviously didn't look at the CCTV before they issued the ticket."

A spokesman for East Midlands Trains, which owns and runs the train station, said: "The drop-off zone at Nottingham railway station is intended to provide a convenient location for customers to be dropped off near the station.

"It is monitored to prevent vehicles for parking for longer than the allotted time which could cause congestion and prevent others from using the area.

"All appeals are judged on a case by case basis and responses provided within 20 working days."


Read more: http://www.nottinghampost.com/Taxi-driv ... z3cjZnfggp
Follow us: @Nottingham_Post on Twitter | NottinghamPostOnline on Facebook

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I had to wait nearly 30 minutes at Nottingham station for my passengers to find their way to the pick up point. I did not receive a charge notice.

_________________
Grandad,

Is the pick up drop off on private railway ground, if so just bin the ticket, they don't have legal standing

You haven't heard of railway bylaws before then.

_________________
Grandad,

_________________
All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

Same as private parking companys

Not down here for the f***ing millionth time.

_________________
IDFIMH

If you say so.

_________________
Grandad,

Some TOCs use Railway Byelaw 14 properly and go to Magistrates Court. East Midlands Trains is one of them.

Same here I've been there over the 5 minutes and never received a ticket. If you stay with your motor your OK, if you leave and go to the café they'll ticket you.

I smell bull here.