Taxi Driver Online

Who do you hate most - people who stand just up from the queue at the rank and try to hail taxis, or the taxis who actually stop for them, or are you one of them

In Dundee last week we had a big court case involving two Dundee FC players (nothing new there then!) and a guy who got a bit of a kicking regarding an argument over a taxi.

The reports in the paper are a bit vague, but if I read them correctly there was a taxi queue of some kind, the Dundee players walked past it and stopped a taxi a bit further up, someone in the queue took exception to this, and all hell broke loose.

There are some excerpts from the Courier below, but the question is, what do people think of this practice. Also, for Dundonians, I didn't people queued for taxis in the Fat Sams/Mardi Gra area, so what is all this about a taxi queue?

On leaving the club, he walked to a taxi stand and walked past Mr McGregor and Aaron Armstrong who, he said, had obviously had too much to drink.

He decided to walk a bit further up the road to get a taxi to avoid getting in their way. He opened the front door of the taxi and jumped in and one of his friends got in the back.

He was about to close his door when he saw someone stop it and he was grabbed by the shirt.

The man said, “This is our taxi, black [edited by admin],” and “yanked” him out, he went on.

He said he was startled by being pulled out and angered by the abuse and, in addition, he believed the man was going to hit him.

...........................

They were at the head of a taxi queue in South Ward Road when a cab stopped further along the street and some people got into it.

He said he went over and opened the door and said, “This is our taxi, mate,” and that Sancho got out of the cab and butted and punched him.

While he was on the ground he was punched and kicked by numerous people, he added.

He said his jaw was broken and he needed an operation to insert plates in it. His jaw was wired shut for a number of weeks, he added.


The full report can be found at:

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2004 ... 6732t0.asp

Incidentally, the players were found not guilty:

http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/outpu ... 103t0.shtm

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Dundee rocks. Almost.

On friday night early hours as cleaning up ops was going on, went past an empty rank, no hacks, nobody waiting for taxi, got flagged by two young girls, 25 yards from rank, so I stopped picked em up

About half an hour later got back to said rank, cab rank had quite a few cabs sat

one of the younger drivers came over to me and started threatening me, apparrantly he had just arrived at the rank head and seen me picking up my flaggers, the two girls
He grabbed hold of me in a violent manner and was going to punch me, he told me that would have been his job and I stole it from him.

I am not a young person, I can't do with violence, anyway he was pulled away from me by other driver, I let rip with a load of verbal [not threats] he, he went like a scolded cat to his cab

It's not my fault he's got big overheads, big mortgage for his 6 bedroom house and all that, I have still to make a living, and the girls flagged me, if he had been on the rank when I passed I would have let him have the fare

Oh by it the was it was a bit of a quite night, that night

How do I go about the threat from this taxi driver, this is the second time he has crossed my path with intended violence, does the matter want reporting to police or would it be an internal with the taxi licencing

Read section 64 of the 1847 act. Then write to your council quoting section 64 and tell them what transpired bewteen you and this other driver. They have a duty to investigate all written complaints. If they find any substance in your complaint the least they should do is warn this driver about his future conduct towards you.

When you write your complaint give the names and details of any witness present.

Good luck

JD

I just noticed your location is Dundee. I recommend you read the relevant local acts, there will probably be a reference to driver intimidation.

Best wishes

JD

On Monday morning you either ring or pop into the council and report him. TDO has too many stories about dodgy licensed drivers, and it would appear this is yet another one.

I'm all for a bit of verbal jousting, but threatening drivers is not on.

Alex

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Simply the best taxi forum in the whole wide world. www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Reluctantly, as a matter of urgency, I have forwarded a letter by hand first thing to the Council Monday morning, as yet again I was subject to threats by the same driver on the rank, on Saturday evening because I woudn't pick up a slob with open takeaway food being first cab on the rank, somehow he thought that he had to take him, to which he did. I got into a little argument, or rather listened to his argument that I was affecting his business, he told me in no uncertain terms to remove myself from the rank, I politley told him to mind his own business regarding my business. The driver in question rents a plate but owns a PH company

I maybe old but these young thugs are not going to take control over me and tell me who I can't or can pick up

I got a bit of running commentry from another Hac who at the time was in the Taxi Licence office when the letter was open, and it seemed that they was quite concerned, this was causing quite a bit of a stir with the licensing staff. I informed the Council in the letter that the letter may cause reprisals to myself from his band of followers in the trade. He is nothing but a thug with a licence

I await the reply of the council

They will have to act, and you have done the right thing.

I suspect the mush will deny everything, cos scum aren't best at telling the truth, but the LO should be able to tell who's being honest.

Saying that, I doubt the LO will be able to do much without third party witness's. But having your complaint on record will help in the long run.

If the tit carries on with his threats, then you must carry on with your complaints. If need be, and if you have an answer phone at home, then when he does carry out more threats phone home from your mobile, and record all his words.

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IDFIMH

The trouble is now Sussex, I'm scared to go to work, really I didn't think I was, but I am, I don't want to see or come across that driver, ok he may be winning at the moment, but I still don't want to be near him, even on a rank when there is only me and him, I don't want violence of any sort, or my vehicle damaging, I am really at my wits end, even after 20 years of hacking I have never been so scared. I have been to work tonight but tried to keep clear of where he stands. should I go to the Police also after the Council have looked into it and get an incident number or such, Thanks for your replies, if I had been 25 years younger I would have sorted this out myself.

Trying to find witness to the incident, most of the drivers don't want to no or I didn't see anything, most are wrapped up in there own world, that is till it happens to them.

regards

Well to me it looks like doing nothing is not really an option.

I think you need to have an urgent meeting with the council. This cannot go on.

Just tell them the truth and insist they do something there and then. If not then report the incidents to the police.

It might be an idea to log everything down, but please do something.

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IDFIMH

Remember if push come to shove (literally) then the law is on your side. i dont think this plonker is willing to risk losing his licence over what is a minor issue.

God man you are only out to make a living,get a few others on your side and make sure everyone knows the correct story.
The other guys will make sure no harm comes to you.
And remember he has more to lose than you.
If he does own a PH company he can be said to be,unfit to run this and the powers to be will probably be looking at his hired plate scenario(if they know about this.
Keep cabbying.