Taxi Driver Online

Agenda Item 2

Renfrewshire Council

To: REGULATORY FUNCTIONS BOARD

On: 26 January 2005

Report by
Director of Corporate Services


1. Summary
1.1 This report outlines the details of a complaint made in connection with a taxi
driver. Recommendations are made with regard to further action.
2. Recommendations
2.1 That the Regulatory Functions Board hold a hearing to consider the grounds
of complaint.
2.2 If the complaint is substantiated to consider the imposition of an appropriate
sanction which may include suspension of the licence.
3. Background
3.1 The complainer wrote to the Council on 4 October 2005. She advised that
about 8.00pm on Friday, 30 September 2005 she had parked her car in the
taxi rank at the front of the terminal building, Glasgow Airport, while her 11
year old daughter went in to check if her husband had arrived. She was also
accompanied in the car at this time by her 14 year old daughter. She advises
at this time, a Renfrewshire Council taxi pulled up behind her and started
flashing his headlights at her and sounding his horn. The complainer states
that she indicated to the taxi driver that she would only be two minutes before
moving off. However, at this moment, her 11 year old daughter returned to
the car and informed her that her father had still not arrived. The complainer
states that the taxi driver then drove up beside her, lowered his window and
told her “this is a taxi rank”. He then stuck two fingers up at her and told her
to “xxxxxxx move”.
It is further alleged that the taxi driver also made an obscene gesture to the
complainer, using an outstretched arm with a fist balled, pulling the forearm
back with the other arm across it. The taxi driver then drove into the taxi rank
and stopped. The complainer then decided to drive off with her two
daughters and returned a few minutes later to check if her husband had
arrived by that time.


She states that as she drove away from the terminal building she passed the
same taxi driver in his car who had been abusive to her and she saw him look
at her. He gave her a one handed masturbation sign. The taxi driver then
drove out from the taxi rank behind the complainer’s car and put on his full
beam lights.

The complainer further alleges that as she was approaching the first
roundabout the same taxi driver undertook her on the nearside and after
pulling in front of her suddenly applied his brakes, causing the complainer to
stop suddenly. He then sped off.

The complainer advises that she found the whole experience of the taxi
driver’s behaviour unacceptable, particularly as she was accompanied by her
two daughters aged 14 and 11 years at the time who were both witnesses to
the incident.

3.2 The taxi driver concerned has been interviewed by the Taxi Enforcement
Officer. He states that when he arrived at the taxi rank he was unable to take
his place in the queue as the complainer’s car was blocking his path into the
rank. He admits to sounding his car horn as he could see the complainer
sitting in her car. However, as he got no response, he then flashed his
headlights twice as it was dark. The taxi driver states that at this time another
motorist drove off from the taxi rank and he was able to drive alongside the
complainer’s car. He lowered his front passenger window and sounded his
car horn to get the driver’s attention. The complainer looked across at him
but kept her driver’s window up. The taxi driver states that he lifted his left
arm and indicated to the complainer the line of taxis behind her waiting to
move to uplift the queue of waiting customers.
He states that the complainer allegedly responded to him by giving him the
“V” sign. As the taxi driver realised that the complainer was not going to
move, he pulled out and got into the taxi rank and took up his position as first
car on the rank. He loaded up his hire immediately and switched on his
dipped beam headlights and drove off.

The taxi driver states that after this he was not paying any further attention to
another car and did not make any signs to another motorist. He further
stated that after he drove off from the taxi rank, he drove in a legal manner.
He denies the allegations regarding obscene gestures and swearing at the
complainer and her daughters.

4. Legal Position
4.1 The Regulatory Functions Board, as licensing authority may in terms of
paragraph 11(2)(a) of Schedule 1 to the Civic Government (Scotland) Act
1982 order the suspension of a licence if, in its opinion “the holder of the
licence ... is no longer a fit and proper person to hold the licence”.

4.2 In considering whether to suspend the licence the Regulatory Functions
Board may in terms of paragraph 11(4)(a)(i) of Schedule 1 to the said Act
have regard to “any misconduct on the part of the holder of the licence,
whether or not constituting a breach of any provision of part I or II of this Act
or this Schedule, which in the opinion of the authority has a bearing on his
fitness to hold a licence”.


Implications of this Report

1 Financial Implications -Nil
2 Personnel Implications -Nil
3 Community Plan Implications

Social inclusion -Nil
Modernising government -Nil
Sustainable development -The continued monitoring and enforcement of

licensing conditions improves the quality of life for the local communities.
4 Legal Implications -See paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of this report
5 Property Implications -Nil
6 Information Technology Implications -Nil
7 Equal Opportunities Implications -Nil

Who is right, or wrong? Who knows bar the two involved, but the cab driver should have kept his gob shut. You will never win when having a row with a woman driver.

If the woman was p***ing him off that much he should have reported the car to the wardens. At every airport I have ever dropped off at there are dozens of them anxious to ticket anything that moves.

_________________
IDFIMH

Especially at a big airport like Glasgow which has Police on patrol at the main entrance where the rank is

RUDE AIRPORT TAXI DRIVERS

The taxi drivers at Glasgow Airport are ignorant at the best of times and I would believe the woman before the taxi drive on this occasion. If you ever drive along the M8 towards the airport they come rushing up the outside lane like maniacs and then at the last moment push their way into the lane for the airport exit.

I hate them with a vengance. The money they charge is outrageous and if you only want to go a few miles down the road all they down is complain.

The sooner they get a kick up the arse the better.

I was recently interviewed by the Transport Police after a complaint of abusive behaviour by a Taxi driver. I was pinged for it but I was able to prove mistaken identity. The complainant said the driver in question, was in his cab, smoking, reading the Sun. Lucky for me I have never smoked, and never ever look at a red top. But supposing the police thought it was me... Could be a worry.

But presumably not at that one.

_________________
Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

There was another incident back at the start of the year involving a minor Scottish 'celeb' Janice Forsyth

Link to council site

A warning was issued to the driver which was subsequently withdrawn

Here, here !

The airport drivers drive like maniacs, I got cut up by some old ******* plate 168 this morning on the M8 westbound just before the airport slip road just so could get in a the last minute in front of another permit holder in a merc van

Next time any of you guys are in the Glasgow area take a drive on the M8 westbound from the city centre towards Paisley & you will see these maniacs driving up & down lane 3 breaking the speed limit to excess as if it was there own private taxi lane

If you ever fly into Glasgow feel free to use a private hire company such as ;

Paisley Cab Company 0141 887 7770

United 01505 331555

Arkleston Cars 0141 886 333

You will get a better service & be left with more money in your pocket

Rude airport taxi drivers suspended


PRIVATE hire taxi drivers working at the airport have been accused of abusing passengers

PRIVATE hire taxi drivers at Glasgow Airport have been warned they will have their licences revoked if they don't improve their manners.

The ultimatum comes after two drivers were suspended for leaving passengers "scared and upset" by their aggressive conduct.

The passengers were subjected to verbal abuse and intimidation, according to Renfrewshire Council.

Both drivers were angered because they were asked to take their fares on short trips to Paisley and Johnstone instead of Glasgow city centre.
Driver Andrew Slaven, 39, from Elderslie, had his licence suspended for three months amid allegations he left a lone female passenger in a state of fear and alarm.

Councillors heard claims that Slaven swore at the passenger and said: "You've got to be joking - this is my third Paisley job today. I don't believe this."

The female claimed he sounded his horn in an aggressive manner and shouted that he was fed-up during the incident on July 14.
He stopped at a petrol station and allowed a second driver to complete the trip to Paisley.

In a separate incident, John Anderson, 45, from Glasgow, was suspended for almost two months following an official complaint from a family from Aberdeen.

A couple told how Anderson reacted with "huge sighs, raised eyebrows and shrugging of shoulders" when they asked to be taken to Johnstone in August.

The council's regulatory functions board heard he then drove in an erratic manner, swinging the car about the road and screeching to a halt.
A report before the board states: "The complainer said he found the whole experience very upsetting for himself, his wife and 10-year-old daughter.

"He further stated that he would be very concerned if a member of his family had to travel with such an aggressive, impolite and alarming taxi driver ever again."

Councillor John McDowell, convener of the regulatory functions board, said: "There was clear evidence of passengers not being dealt with in a professional manner because they had asked for a journey not deemed a lucrative enough fare by the taxi drivers.

"The board will not tolerate passengers at the airport being inconvenienced or made to feel uncomfortable in this way.

"We don't want a minority of taxi drivers damaging the reputation of the trade."

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Unlike the usual press error of equating PH with taxis, isn't this the other way round - ie taxis are being incorrectly termed PH?

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

dont tell sussex he will have a coronery.

Any chance you can tell me the original source for the story & I will phone them

It was the Glasgow Evening Times:

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5049011.html

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

As a saloon car taxi driver, I suspect they think black cabs and saloon hacks are a different beast - I often get punters talking about 'private taxis', for example.

The other night, I was talking to a punter who thought that we couldn't pick up flaggers.

He did get in a rank though, so presumably he thought that was allowed

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

these are them.
dont they have the dda up there?