Taxi Driver Online

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
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How many prosecuted? Probably none.

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

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.

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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stressed controller!!!

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

The story does say illegal minicabs not taxis.

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Grandad,

Surely they are pretending to be Taxis?

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There's no excuse for animal abuse. If you ain't vegan you are an animal abuser.

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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"Where to, Guv'?. Na sorry not going my way"

I could'nt imagine many legitimate Taxi's or Minicabs wanting to hang about there anyway.

Rye Lane? Mind the bullets.......