Taxi Driver Online

Anger over points plan

PETITION – three of the cabbies objecting to Corby Council’s penalty points scheme. From left, Martin Blakestone, Kelvin Donnelly, and Joe Hayes


"The proposal appears vague and to a certain degree unprofessional, raising concerns with the way they intend to deal with our trade during these uncertain times"A spokesman for Sky Cabs

Taxi drivers are furious about plans to introduce a penalty points system that could see them have their licences revoked.

Nearly 60 cabbies have signed a petition opposing a Corby Council move they say provides an excuse for drivers to be suspended.

The Sky Cabs Association, which represents drivers in the town, said the authority should be helping the industry through the recession as opposed to introducing a "petty" penalty points system.

Members of the One Corby Policy Committee are being recommended to approve the controversial system at their meeting tonight.

A list of 30 offences for which points would be given include "unsatisfactory behaviour or conduct" including "wearing football tops", obstructing a council officer and unreasonably prolonging a journey.

A spokesman for Sky Cabs said: "We are of the understanding that if a council governs the taxi trade, there must be at least some obligation to ensure that all participants within the trade are earning a living at least above the minimum wage.

"Instead, we are hit with a list of rule enforcements that we as customers of the council are not prepared to accept under this current climate.

"The proposal appears vague and to a certain degree unprofessional, raising concerns with the way they intend to deal with our trade during these uncertain times.

"We haven't received any notification about tonight's meeting.

"The taxi officer is given complete autonomy through these rules."

Taxi driver Kevin Donelan said: "Many of the rules come under existing legislation anyway. Not having a driving licence, for instance, is the law of the land. This is completely unnecessary."

If approved, the system would mean that cabbies being issued with more than 12 penalty points could be suspended after consideration from the authority's licensing panel.

Health protection manager for Corby Council, Damian Wilkins, said: "While the majority of licence holders abide by the rules, there is a small number of drivers that consistently do not.

"Officers' time is regularly unnecessarily spent chasing up drivers who do not produce required information on time and who contravene council conditions, for example, not wearing badges.

"The primary objective is to improve the levels of compliance within the hire vehicle trade which would subsequently help improve the standards, safety and protection for the travelling public."

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

Not even going to start on this one but Saddams memoirs must have been recovered before he was executed. The way Taxi drivers are being treated as if they are not self employed and these LA are so concerned about the safety of the general public then isn't it about time drivers were subsidised the same as the rail and bus companies. When was the last time you seen a bus get pulled by VOSA. I would gladly give up my time and travel to the capital to recreate something like the poll tax riots, that seemed to work.

Off you go then, have a nice day out and buy a couple of souveniers from the shops.

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Grandad,

Thats the problem grandad, direct action would not work as people would take a step backwards to make a fortune!

Nothing new here, I got points 20 years ago for double parking in a road, the LO at the time, a fat snivelling sweaty corrupt little pig of a man came along and started barking at me like I'd upset a swat team, I always remember it because not 20 minutes later I pulled out in front of him as a car doing 5mph at night tends to blend with the buildings, to which he followed me back to base, expecting another 3rd degree I stormed into the office fuming and ready to remove a head, the boss sent me out back and told me to stay there, as it was, Penfold the Pig just wanted to browse the office improvements that were going on at the time, vile little man with a tongue that could clean the throat of anyone higher up than him from the backside upwards.

It seems that we have a point system disease spreading throughout the country.

Maybe it's time drivers got organised a bit more and fought back against this crazy idea.

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IDFIMH

CC

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

I'm sure it is time for action but it is also highly unlikely as it seems the trade is suffering from a serious case of apathy over a lot of things that should be brought to book

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

Apathy is something this trade will never be rid of, but all it needs is a few sensible drivers to get a proper plan of action in place. Then pursue that plan with vigour, never give it, and may good use of the press and e-mails to councillors.

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IDFIMH

I wish the PCO would come up with a similar rule when it concerns shell suits or football tops.

...and there might be the first challenge, Sussex!

I think both toots and yourself are correct, in different ways. You are absolutely on the money regarding the fact that drivers need to stand together on such things and that if they would do so, they would have a fair chance of success. Sadly, Toots is arguably even closer though that there's little chance of them getting out of their apathetic state and doing it.

Hell, you also only need to read these forums to see how difficult it is to get the trade to even reach agreement, let alone get the some of the "living dead" out there to take action. However, I'd love to be proven wrong on this subject.