Taxi Driver Online

Not sure if the photos illustrate the loose bumper too well, but there's a short video clip showing the loose headlight - probably best viewed via Twitter here:

https://twitter.com/Bhamtaxicop/status/ ... 8679880712

Watch as police find taxi bumper and headlight held together with CABLE TIES

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/m ... r-15984112

Alarming discovery made on Washwood Heath Road




Image: Twitter/Birmingham Taxi Cop

Taxi for this cab driver!

This hapless man had a long walk home after cops found the bumper of his taxi was held together by CABLE TIES.

Flabbergasted police made the discovery when they stopped the private hire taxi on the Washwood Heath Road.

During an examination, they found the bumper and headlights was attached by thin cable ties and the engine was emitting an unhealthy sound.

They also found defective bodywork and immediately took the car off the road until all repairs are carried out.

The headlight could have caused damage or injury to other people on the road had it flown off.

The ‘cable car’ was one of 35 vehicles stopped and checked over during an enforcement operation on Wednesday.

Bham Taxi Cop, who is an enforcement and liaison officer for private hire and hackney carriages, said: “The condition of the vehicle fell well below the accepted standards of a private hire and many of the parts, should they have come off, would have posed a danger to any other road user.”

Meanwhile the public were left shaking their heads in disbelief at a tweet showing images of the taxi.

Wayne Casey said: “The guy deserves something for ingenuity surely.”

Jo tweeted: “Far too many professional drivers not conducting daily checks.

“It’s a danger for fare paying passengers as in event of accident insurance may be void! Fog lights and middle lane hogging are lessons cabbies across UK need to heed laws.”

Tony o Connor said: “Bit a DIY there.”

J C asked: “Was Fred Flintstone driving ?

Another posted said: “Engine sounds on the way out as well.”

Earlier in the day, one driver used his father’s private hire taxi to collect plasterboards, landing him with a fine.

Bham Taxi Cop tweeted: “Using your dads PHV whilst not a licensed PHD to collect some plaster boards, WILL get you six points on your licence and your dad costs of £150+ to get it back AND face use cause permit charges.”


Image: Twitter/Birmingham Taxi Cop

Not sure if Mr Casey really qualifies as a member of the public in this context. Bio on Twitter feed says:

"Admin Officer of the National Taxi Association, occasional columnist in PHTM paper, Carlisle Utd supporter but follow Lochar Thistle....and cab driver"

Presumably the author of the newspaper piece didn't look


Image: Twitter/Birmingham Taxi Cop

Interesting window sticker there saying ADVANCE BOOKINGS ONLY - don't think I've seen one on the windscreen before.

They also caught a tout last night:




Image: Twitter/Birmingham Taxi Cop