Taxi Driver Online

Following on from this discussion I was immediately in contact with the head of our licensing department and more to the point the chair and deputy chair of the licensing committee.

I phoned the licensing department several times and on the 18th June I emailed the head of licensing who was a very hard person to nail down, however both councilors were more amenable and they promised me they were would highlight the issue. All that took place in June. In August I was surprised to read that some action had indeed been taken and an experiment was now taking place which involves a limited number of vehicles.

I suppose my persistence finally got a result.

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/news/ ... ivers.html

It's interesting to read the latest messages in this thread about subsidy and encryption both points are very interesting.

Best wishes

JD

I know it's got it's conditions but it's a start.

In the area I work the council allow the video type, but it does take up a bit of space in the rear.

The digital ones are OK, but they are also bloody dear. But not as dear as a smack in the mouth.

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IDFIMH

Hey there "Boro cabs" I have the "Cabeye" system installed with a mean looking camera on the dash, and one above the mirror for the back seat, the dickheads seem to go quite when they see that, instead of the usual "what time did you start, wot time u finish, all I get now is "wots that there". it's the first thing they see when they get in the cab, it's looking at them, then they seem to behave themselves

I wouldn't work without one now, worth their weight in gold, this ones digital, so no tapes, just fit and forget, you can fit it yourself in a few minutes. only needed to save recording twice in 8 years for police. Can't remember when I last had a shoplifter, drug dealer or down right scum in me cab, they must be walking or using another cab

I weighed up all options before I bought a camera system, "Cabeye" came out best to me.

go on get one, you can set it against tax

regards, Highwayman.

Thanks for that mate, we are getting a demo done by Raywood the first week in November, hopefully they will meet the criteria the Council set out.

I think if they came down to a more realistic price, then many more drivers would buy them.

That aside, when I get my next new motor, one will be installed.

I have got a question for John Davis

if Manchester council say cameras in cabs are not legal, why were they allowed in cabs for taxi nights? the tv programme?

I assume you are talking about TV cameras? best advice I can give you is Phone 234 4197 you might get the answer your looking for.

Best wishes.

JD

The reason in the first place I got "Cabeye" camera system in me cab in the first place started from this incident......

Picked up this girl from the rank to go to the Bail Hostel, arrived at the destination, she got out without paying and cleared off into the Hostel. I intern knocked on the Bail Hostel door, to which was answered by the Bail Hostel supervisor and asked for my fare.

After a few mins the supervisor came out with the cash, there you are she said, I have got it from petty cash as she as no monies on her, and oh by the way the girl said the Taxi driver attacked her in the back of the cab, to which the superviser said was [edited by admin], just an excuse because she had no cash.

Cover yourself, get a witness, "Cabeye" camera system, be one step ahead

Just to let you all know, had a woman do a runner on me on the 8 Nov, £5.70, when I stopped, I asked for the fare, she said "bol**cks to the fare" and got out, rang the cops, told they were to busy [think it was a monday evening] with the yobs on the estates and they would contact me later

Next day made a statement, could either go down the station or they would come to my home, gave the officer a video taken from the Cabeye mb card cctv system, he needed that to see who he was to go and talk to and would help him a great deal, all date and time stamped
anyway, today got the results in my favour from the magistrates, found guilty of making off without payment on the 10 Nov, [fast tracked]

so £5.70 +fine + court costs + a bit of compensation = £180 odd + black mark, doesn't make sense does it


I wouldn't go to work without my Cabeye cctv system.

Your quite right it doesn't make sense. But I bet for every one like you that sticks at it, there are many hundreds that put it down to experience and swallow it.

What's the chance of getting the money?

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IDFIMH

Chance of getting the money, well relying on "The Beak" [magistrates] if I don't get it, well at least I got them a conviction, it just sends the message out and helps other cabbies

usually the coppers will go and collect the taxi fare in some cases, maybe to save paperwork, and bring the cash to the rank, if they can get it out of them. The copper I got on this runner was lucky, his dad is a taxi driver.

I take my work seriously, just like you lads do, I have a laugh and a joke, but work at zero tolerance, only the other night a couple going to a hotel [strangers to town] told me the hotel name and as I set off the bloke said "and not the long way round", [I think they watch to much telly or inherit this myth about taxi drivers ripping people off] I hit the brakes, could feel the blood rising in my head, I stopped the cab and said what are you trying to say like, you are accusing me that I am going to rob and deceive you, well in that case I would suggest that you go find another cab, he appologised, said it was only a joke, I told him I am not here to be joked, I did take them on to the hotel, his wife did all the talking after that, she gave me a big tip to compensate

The runners make my blood boil, they have spent the good part of 40-50 + upwards, paid every man and his dog for everything, drinks, night clubs, takeaway food, when it gets down to going home to try and wangle a free run home from a taxi driver, not on with me,

I don't care if I have to loss an hour or so of work to bring the cuprits to justice, lucky enough with my Cabeye cctv usually the camera gets noticed and don't really get that many, but ones enough.

well said highwayman, but sometimes in the middle of the night when you have a few punters in the back its not so easy to be demanding your fare , or to stop them smoking etc,,i suppose a lot of it has to do with the goodwill of the punters themselves. As for cctv,,id buy when one if our council allowed it, one night after dropping a hire off i popped into a local petrol station to buy ciggies when i spotted a set of blue neon lights for in the vehicle,,they cost 8 pounds and i thought they would make a nice gadget,,they looked like mini cameras, so every tom dick and harry asked me ``whats that,cameras ?? i said yes and its linked to base,,well i never heard a squeek out of them after that,,brilliant i thought and no complaints either to council etc,,until our city council allow them i will continue to decieve,,,in the interst of my safety !!!!

Bugger all to do with goodwill, be firm, work on zero tollerance, smoking in your cab, it's your place of work, get em out, there is always another better punter who wants a ride home, I can't see how your Local authority can refuse, put a cctv system in, let them take you to court,

regards

Top draw mate well done We tell them down here we have hidden cameras you can see their eyes looking all over the car trying to locate the cameras.