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Rogue taxi drivers are breaking rank
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Author:  captain cab [ Tue Dec 19, 2006 1:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Rogue taxi drivers are breaking rank
Rogue taxi drivers are breaking rank

Dec 19 2006




By Luke Traynor, Liverpool Echo


CHRISTMAS revellers were today warned to avoid Liverpool cabbies who "cherry pick" passengers and charge inflated fares.

Licensing officials have learned that many taxi drivers are avoiding regulated ranks in the city centre to over-charge customers.

They will be out in force to catch cabbies who are suspected of breaking the law.

An undercover operation is being launched by Merseyside police and the council to snare rogue drivers.

Officers will manage the queues at the Burma Stand rank in Nelson Street in Chinatown over Christmas and New Year.


Joe Curran, Chamber of Commerce Pubwatch manager, said: "There is strong evidence that cabs are not going to ranks, but are 'cherrypicking' fares at hugely inflated prices.


"We want visitors to the city to have an enjoyable time and take away a good impression of the city.


"More importantly they should be able to get home easily and safely without being ripped off."


Citysafe, Liverpool's Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership, is appealing to cabbies to look after their customers over the festive season.


Cllr Dave Antrobus, executive member for community safety, said: "People should always note down the number of the cab and contact the licensing office if they suspect a driver is cherry picking.


"We do run operations in conjunction with the police to catch drivers who don't obey the regulations, but we need the assistance of the public if we are to effectively deal with this issue."


The Transport and General Workers union is backing the move to root out the rogue cabbies.


Tommy McIntyre, union representative, said: "This type of practice does nothing for the cab trade.


"We have got 3,500 taxi drivers working in Liverpool and the vast majority are decent and hard working."
Author:  captain cab [ Tue Dec 19, 2006 3:25 pm ]
Post subject: 
Cherrypicking cab drivers? whatever next

CC
Author:  Sussex [ Tue Dec 19, 2006 7:10 pm ]
Post subject: 
Why is it in some areas drivers don't like going miles, yet in another they love it? :?

And surely this 'cherry picking' lark can be dealt with in-house, so to speak. :roll:

Or are they all at it? :?
Author:  captain cab [ Tue Dec 19, 2006 8:07 pm ]
Post subject: 
Sussex wrote:
Why is it in some areas drivers don't like going miles, yet in another they love it? :?

And surely this 'cherry picking' lark can be dealt with in-house, so to speak. :roll:

Or are they all at it? :?


It's not a case of not wanting to do longer jobs, its a case of getting as much money as possible, in as short a time as possible.

Of course, anything is possible due to this 'prescribed distance' shenanigan's in the 1847 act.

CC
Author:  Road Runner [ Tue Dec 19, 2006 8:34 pm ]
Post subject: 
I don't believe that story is correct, i can believe that cabbies are cherry picking but not for the better fares or to rip people off, (maybe a minority are). I believe they are cherry picking the punters that can actually stand up, put yourself in the position, as i'm sure many of you can, of a cabbie entering any city centre at midnight on a busy night over Christmas, ask yourself, "do i pick up this flag who looks reasonably sober, or do i go directly to the rank where i have to pick up the first punter?", so you go to the rank, bunch of lads at the front, door opens, "thud" dishevelled punter hits the floor stinking of puke, his mates, who are not travelling with him tell you to take him home, you have now become the babysitter for a semiconscious drunk who by the time you get him to his area is comatose, you try to wake him up, no chance, you try to find some id on him, nope but you do notice that he has all of 87p in his pockets, at this point you ask yourself

WHY THE F**K DIDN'T I PICK UP THAT FLAG?

So after 27 years on nights i can safely say that i will be picking up the first soberish looking punter i see on my way back in, they will be taken to where they want to go and will be charged clock fare, i learned my lesson long ago and i'm no ones babysitter, i only charge for transport and that's all i will provide, politely :lol:
Author:  captain cab [ Wed Dec 20, 2006 10:54 am ]
Post subject: 
I'm afraid it does happen road runner.

Usually people going outside the prescribed distance, desperate to get home, offering the driver way above the normal metered rate.

CC
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