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| Illegal Minicabs Rack Up Unpaid Parking Fines In London http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7989 |
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| Author: | Cybro [ Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:47 am ] |
| Post subject: | Illegal Minicabs Rack Up Unpaid Parking Fines In London |
19 Feb 2008 Given the run around by illegal minicabs ILLEGAL minicabs have racked up tens of thousands of pounds in parking fines - with the cash not being collected. The unlicensed taxis are targeting supermarket shoppers in Rye Lane, Peckham, by offering them lifts for rates cheaper than official drivers. The South London Press has learnt that four of these illegal drivers have been given more than £5,000 in parking fines. The drivers, who cops say live outside the borough, have not paid Southwark council's charges and parking bosses are finding it difficult to track them down. Superintendent Victor Olisa from Southwark police said: "We've had a problem with unlicensed taxis operating out of this area for quite a while. People are unsure of the difference between a licensed and unlicensed minicab which can add to the confusion. "We want people not to use them for their own safety and have been campaigning for this." Susan Jones, ward councillor for The Lane, said: "This is a very serious matter. We need to get tough on unlicensed minicabs and this needs to be done by collecting those charges. This is a safety issue and shouldn't be ignored." Minicab drivers have to be registered with Transport for London (TfL), which involves successfully completing a criminal records check. The South London Press asked Southwark council about the parking fines and the failure to collect the money. A council spokeswoman said: "We are aware of issues with illegal minicabs on Rye Lane and we're working closely with the police and other agencies to tackle the problem." The Cab Enforcement Unit, which is part of the TfL-funded Met Police Transport Operational Command Unit, has made more than 1,000 arrests in 2007 - 90 per cent of which were for taxi touting. Since 2003, officers have made more than 4,000 arrests for touting, and research indicates the level of touting has reduced in that period. Source: ic SouthLondon ---------- Disclaimer These press articles are intended for informational purposes only. Statements and opinions expressed in these articles are solely those of the original Publisher. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of any of these articles, and therefore I am not liable for any information contained therein. Where possible, the Publisher and the source are documented within each article. Any author that holds legal copyright, and objects to their material being posted, may request that it be removed and any future material excluded. |
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| Author: | JD [ Tue Feb 19, 2008 12:14 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Illegal Minicabs Rack Up Unpaid Parking Fines In London |
Cybro wrote: The Cab Enforcement Unit, which is part of the TfL-funded Met Police Transport Operational Command Unit, has made more than 1,000 arrests in 2007 - 90 per cent of which were for taxi touting.
Since 2003, officers have made more than 4,000 arrests for touting, and research indicates the level of touting has reduced in that period. How many prosecuted? Probably none. Regards JD |
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| Author: | cabbyman [ Tue Feb 19, 2008 7:21 pm ] |
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If the 'fines' are issued by a private parking company, they can only be regarded as a form of contract. The vagaries of contract law as applied to parking 'violations' make them pretty near unenforceable. |
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| Author: | rambo [ Tue Feb 19, 2008 7:47 pm ] |
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If touts get arrested they DO get charged, 5 drivers in my office have been nicked for touting, normally 6 points and a big fine. In response to to story, how can yo have an illegal taxi?. What they mean is someone PRETENDING to be a PHV. |
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| Author: | MR T [ Tue Feb 19, 2008 7:50 pm ] |
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| Author: | grandad [ Tue Feb 19, 2008 8:15 pm ] |
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rambo wrote: If touts get arrested they DO get charged, 5 drivers in my office have been nicked for touting, normally 6 points and a big fine.
In response to to story, how can yo have an illegal taxi?. What they mean is someone PRETENDING to be a PHV. The story does say illegal minicabs not taxis. |
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| Author: | Bart [ Wed Feb 20, 2008 2:46 pm ] |
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rambo wrote: If touts get arrested they DO get charged, 5 drivers in my office have been nicked for touting, normally 6 points and a big fine.
In response to to story, how can yo have an illegal taxi?. What they mean is someone PRETENDING to be a PHV. Surely they are pretending to be Taxis? |
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| Author: | blobby [ Wed Feb 20, 2008 3:03 pm ] |
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The PCO have been informed several times by local legitimate firms that touts are working around McDonalds in Rye Lane. They are more interested in miniscule paperework issues at genuine Operators premises than dealing with the safety of the travelling public. I have been in this game for 32years doing just about every job that could be done within the industry and in my opinion legislation for mini-cabs has brought about no improvement in public safety whatsoever. The PCO despite all the licence fees they collect do very little to quell the rise in touting. The Police TOCU unit is just a hand full of officers. |
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| Author: | GBC [ Thu Feb 28, 2008 12:41 am ] |
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I could'nt imagine many legitimate Taxi's or Minicabs wanting to hang about there anyway. Rye Lane? Mind the bullets....... 
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