Taxi Driver Online

Praise after police swoop on private hire cabs

Plain-clothes police, posing as potential customers, staged a swoop on private hire vehicles in Dundee following complaints about breaches of legislation (writes Steven Bell).

But the weekend operation, the results of which can be revealed by the Tele today, found widespread compliance with the rules by drivers of white-plated vehicles.

The cabs enforcement unit is even planning to write a letter of praise to one man flagged down by the officers who may be Dundee’s most courteous cabbie.

Inspector Sandy Brodie, of the unit, said, “We had officers out in plain clothes on Friday and Saturday nights checking compliance of the white plates.

“The officers would flag down a vehicle with white plates and ask the driver to take them to a specific destination, but it is heartening to know that over the weekend there was 96% compliance with the rules.”

Unlike yellow-plated taxis, private hire vehicles are not allowed to pick up fares who flag them down on the streets or use ranks.

Journeys have to be booked in advance.

There have long been suggestions, however, that white plate drivers in the city are seeking to increase their takings by flouting the rules.

Tayside Police were last year the subject of a complaint from the taxi trade over claims — refuted by the force — that officers “turn a blind eye” to private hire cab companies breaking licensing rules.

Inspector Brodie said that dozens of checks had been made at the weekend and, as a result, two drivers are to be the subject of reports to council licensing chiefs. He added, “In one case a white plate driver who was flagged down stopped and took the time to explain he couldn’t pick our officers up because of the licensing legislation.

“He apparently had very good knowledge about it, and also said the reason he had stopped was because he didn’t want them to think he was rude just driving past.

“We will be trying to identify this man so we can send him a letter in praise of his professionalism and courtesy.”

The operation at the weekend also included checks across the city on a number of stretch limousines — two of which were immediately put off the road.

In both cases, the vehicles were allegedly being driven without the appropriate licences.

Both the drivers and operators will be the subject of reports to the Procurator Fiscal. The occupants of the limos didn’t have their evenings ruined, however, as they were conveyed to their destination by the police instead!

Inspector Brodie said the two-fold weekend of action was the result of weeks of planning and research by the team into the complicated legislation surrounding private hire vehicles.

“Everything we were doing at the weekend was about public safety and compliance with the terms of licences,” said the officer.

“It is something we will be doing again.”

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

Inspector Brodie said the two-fold weekend of action was the result of weeks of planning and research by the team into the complicated legislation surrounding private hire vehicles.


Q. what's so complicated ?

And all the PH radioed in to let others know

Inspector Brodie said that dozens of checks had been made at the weekend and, as a result, two drivers are to be the subject of reports to council licensing chiefs. He added,

I am sorry officer but we know you are looking for us


He apparently had very good knowledge about it and also said

Stop fecking about and get the drunks sorted



They must have clocked his plate number

[quote="captain cab"]Praise after police swoop on private hire cabs
quote]??????PRIVATE HIRE CABS????????
NOT SUCH A THING IVE HEARD OF LOW LIFE NOT GOT A CLUE WHERE I GOING CARS.SEAGULL CARS NON STOP DONT GIVE A CRAP CARS.WANT TO BE A CAB CARS.

I take it English is your second or maybe even third language?

The story came from the press, I usually highlight the press getting it wrong by calling PH cabs, but I suppose you've done that for me?

CC

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

sorry about the double post my pc is playing up,the taxi association should get the yellow plate owners and drivers to put money together and pay somebody to flag them down go a short journey and pay the fare,film it as it happens with a hidden camera (you can buy on net)get the right figures then go to the press and ridicule the police,s figures

So how exactly does he propose that the police get the information they require to assess the situation acurately. If they don't do operations like this should it just be word of mouth from HC drivers. As I've always said if all taxis were public and private hire there wouldn't be these problems

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Surely that's one for Bletchley Park.

I think its a form of Pigeon English...Possibly a rare Dialect spoken in the Craigmillar area around edinburgh by the last living remnants of Neanderthal Man....

Check Below..you can Hear rare use of this ancient Dialect by batman from an early Batman Episode based on a short story called "The mysterious case of the Hairy Oxters and the Knitted brow".

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zBsxqQIu_5s

and while trying to snare PH taking flag downs, were they also trying to book "taxi limos" with self driver hire drivers....

all any PH driver has to do is hand the punter a card for them to ring the office with the advice "im sure you get a car here in minutes mate"

Excuse me, but not everyone from that area is a knuckle dragger.

only 99.999999999999999%

Bloodnock, that was quality

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"