New specialist cameras are being used by City of Wolverhampton Council in a bid to catch drivers committing a serious offence on the roads.
BirminghamLive reports that the state-of-the-art technology is being rolled out to detect so-called 'ghost plates'.
It follows concerns about an increase in use of these infra-red reflective number plates, sometimes also known as 3D or 4D plates, which aren't visible to speed, bus lane or low emission zone cameras.
Wolverhampton council is now among local authorities attempting to crackdown on the use of these plates. The crackdown comes after the reflective plates were seen on vehicles, the authority said.
A large operation was recently carried out around England, including in Wolverhampton and Birmingham city centres, as well as Manchester Airport, in which over 80 licensed taxis and private hire vehicles were checked for illegal plates, with one found to be using them.
The driver was issued with a £100 fine by police.
Council officers have now been handed the specialist cameras for use during patrols. During February and March, a further ten notices were issued for ghost plates.
It means anyone running the plates on their cars could escape detection from speed cameras and bus lane cameras and therefore be able to avoid fines.
Councillor Craig Collingswood, cabinet member for environment at Wolverhampton City Council, said: "Wolverhampton is leading the way as the first council investing in this state-of-the-art technology to deter and detect offenders.
"Bus lanes are essential for the public transport network to operate efficiently and speed cameras help to keep the public safe from speeding vehicles and reduce the likelihood of a crash.
"All motorists can expect to pay a fine if found to be using these illegal methods to avoid cameras and taxi drivers licensed by Wolverhampton may have their licence suspended or revoked."
Source: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/council-officers-armed-new-specialist-29135691
A taxi passenger from Carlisle who made off without paying the fare was known to the driver because they had previously been in relationship.
According to the News & star, Lisa Nugent, 33, was also likely to be caught because she had booked the taxi in her own name and then asked to go to her home address, Carlisle’s Rickergate court heard.
She admitted making off without payment on April 2. She also pleaded guilty to a second charge of being drunk and disorderly on April 19.
The court heard that Nugent first got into trouble when she walked away from the taxi that had transported her without paying the £7 fare she had incurred.
The second offence related to her behaviour in Stephenson Road, Carlisle.
Prosecutor Graeme Tindall police were called because the defendant had been in a “drunk and volatile state.”
Andrew Gurney, defending, described Nugent as a “vulnerable adult,” who was dealing with a number of mental health disorders, including bipolar and split personality disorder.
“She uses substances to deal with her difficulties,” said the lawyer.
“She had enjoyed a long period of stability from drugs. It’s unfortunate that there has been this blip. She accepts that she was excessively drunk and apologises for her behaviour.
“The taxi driver was known to her; they had previously been in a romantic relationship. The fare involved was for a low amount.”
The presiding magistrates said it was a shame that Nugent committed the two offences.
The defendant was given a £40 fine for each offence, with £85 costs and an order to pay the taxi driver involved £7 compensation.
Source: https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/24306415.carlisle-taxi-passenger-dodged-taxi-fare-cab-driven-ex/
Chorley businesses are working together on a new project to support the borough’s homeless - which will see taxi drivers deliver takeaways to the needy.
The Lancashire Post reports that Helping Hands is the idea of Shaz Malik from the Chorley Taxi Association (CTA), and is a collaboration with Chorley United Reformed Church open kitchens, led by Brenda Lambert, which has been preparing and serving food for the needy every Thursday since 2012.
Shaz met Brenda seven years ago when he first donated food, and recently decided to extend the support, with the backing of CTA directors Rashid Sohail, Mohmed Esa and managers Amy Hodkinson and Abdul Javeed.
As a team they have encouraged several local businesses to join the Helping Hands initiartive, including Texas Steak House in Bolton Road.
Owner Saqib Mohammed has offered a 70 per cent discount on food to support CTA Helping Hands.
He said: “When Shaz presented the Helping Hands plans, I immediately became interested. Even though times are tough for everyone, it is important that we still make an effort to help and support others.
"I am happy to be involved with Chorley and contribute to the local community.”
Owner of Cream Curls dessert parlor in Eaves Lane, Samir Asif and manager Salika Asif, have offered an 80 per cent discount on a range of desserts for Brenda’s kitchen.
Salika already helps and supports children with autism by hiring out Cream Curls for small parties.
Salika said she was “eager” to participate, adding: “Personally, I find great joy in helping others, and the ability to impact someone else’s life in a meaningful way is truly rewarding.”
William Foran, owner of Foran and Blake hairdessers is offering a 66 per cent discount to the needy referred by Brenda, and at no expense, Martin Downer from Spiral Graphics has supplied the Helping Hand stickers.
Brenda’s team will use their budget to order discounted meals from the shops on board, and they will be delivered at no charge by members of the CTA to the church on a Thursday.
The CTA is also covering the percentage cost difference to small local businesses from their membership fees. No referrals are needed for the open kitchen.
Shaz Malik, founder of the CTA said he was keen to be able to offer homeless people the same food he would eat “rather than the cheapest options”.
He said: “We are more than just a ride in our community. It is crucial for individuals to recognise and endorse these establishments and opt for CTA approved taxis for their travel needs, as they are the ones making this vision a reality in Chorley.
“Also, equally, please support our local business who are supporting homeless project, before you go to McDonalds or places like Subway, please support our local business who are supporting our cause.
"With everything happening globally, it makes sense to consider supporting our local community and uniting various groups to focus on positive actions.
"Let’s start by bringing people together in our hometown and working towards a common goal of making a difference.”
The safety of taxis in the Settle and Skipton areas was in the spotlight as part of a joint operation.
North Yorkshire Police roads policing officers worked alongside North Yorkshire Council's taxi licensing enforcement staff.
They focused in particular on drivers and vehicles operating on school contracts in the Settle area, stopping seven taxis carrying youngsters on the ‘school run’, on the morning of Tuesday 30 April 2024.
A number of issues were identified, including drivers not wearing photo identification, missing internal taxi licence identification, and headlights in an unsatisfactory condition.
As a result, four drivers will be issued with warning letters by North Yorkshire Council, and some vehicles will be re-inspected in the future.
A further driver was reported for summons by North Yorkshire Police for not wearing a seatbelt correctly.
The team also stopped and checked taxis in the Cross Hills and Skipton area on the same day.
Although five were found to be wholly in order, some further issues were identified with other taxis stopped, including wing mirrors in poor condition, and worn tyres.
Further inspections, and several warning letters, will follow.
North Yorkshire Council's corporate director of environment, Karl Battersby, said: "Our role as a local authority is to provide assurance to customers that taxis in the North Yorkshire area meet the requirements of the law and our agreed standards.
"This is especially significant where children are involved hence our close partnership with North Yorkshire Police."
Traffic Constable David Minto, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “The initial focus of our operation was in the Settle area, and specifically during the time of the morning ‘school run’, where safety is of course paramount.
“Partnership working is critical to the success of these operations, to ensure safer roads, roadworthy vehicles and authorised drivers in North Yorkshire.”
Two women racially abused a taxi driver during a late-night journey across Carlisle after he told them they should not eat and drink in his cab.
The News & Star reports that the driver collected 25-year-old Shanie Phillipson and the second woman on the evening of August 25 last year and immediately told them they were not allowed into the cab with the cans of beer and lager they had.
The man also then told them not to eat in the cab as Phillipson began tucking into a packet of crisps, magistrates heard. As the journey got underway, the women began verbally abusing the driver.
Phillipson sat behind the driver and made comments suggesting he was a paedophile. When she began eating crisps, and he asked to not do that, she responded by saying she was allowed to eat whatever she wanted “in my own country.”
The man was also subjected to homophobic abuse.
Though the prosecution accepted that the second woman involved, who has not been identified, was the main protagonist in the abuse, Phillipson had joined in and the two women had both used the same kind of abusive language.
Prosecutor Graeme Tindall told the city’s Rickergate court: “It has caused the taxi driver considerable upset. He said he has been in this country for nine years and only suffered racism on two occasions. This was one of them.
“He did not argue because they were abusing him, and he didn’t want to get into an argument with them.”
He felt he needed to concentrate on his driving.
After the journey, aware that they were filming the encounter, the victim feared the women would post some of the encounter on Facebook.
In a statement, he said: “It made me feel extremely stressed; I dreaded going to work and feared that they hadn’t gone away.”
In the weeks after the incident, the driver’s wife had struggled to sleep because she was worried about her husband while he was at work.
Phillipson admitted using racially aggravated threatening and abusive words and behaviour.
Steven Marsh, defending, said: “She accepts she was intoxicated,” said the lawyer.
“She has no recollection of the actual incident.”
It was the second woman passenger who had told the driver she would get her boyfriend to smash the driver’s face in, said Mr Marsh.
At that point, said the lawyer, Phillipson had gestured to the other woman to get her to stop.
The other woman was not somebody Phillipson even knew, said Mr Marsh, and that second woman had not been caught.
The presiding magistrate told the defendant: “It’s not the first time you have been in court for not being able to keep a lid on it.”
The magistrates imposed a 12-month community order which includes 15 rehabilitation activity days.
Phillipson must also observe 80 days of electronically monitored alcohol abstinence and pay £200 compensation to the victim, as well as a £114 victim surcharge.
Source: https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/24304300.court-sentences-carlisle-woman-racial-abuse-taxi-driver/
Ways of increasing the amount of wheelchair-accessible taxis across the city are set to be explored to make it easier for those who need one to get one.
Cumbrian taxi drivers are fighting back against proposed licensing changes they fear will cripple their livelihoods.
Bolton taxi drivers are urged to sign up for free safeguarding and disability awareness training before the deadline on October 31st, 2024.
A Conwy Council meeting on Monday revealed a critical failing that allowed a taxi driver whose license had been revoked to continue transporting children to school.
Worcester City Council is seeking public opinion on a proposal to make safeguarding training mandatory for taxi and private hire drivers.
A proposal to increase driver, vehicle and private hire operator licences was discussed on Friday 19 July 19 at Sheffield City Council’s waste and street scene committee.
Through this collaboration, FREENOW willl provide additional benefits giving drivers up to 25% off pay-as-you-go rates across the entire bp pulse electric charging network and discounted fuel at all UK bp branded sites.
Wakefield Licensing, working alongside West Yorks Police Roads Policing unit, NPT, Off-Road Bike Team, Police Intercept Team, DVLA & DVSA, held a Partnership Day of Action at Thornes Park.
A pilot emissions reduction grant scheme providing financial support for hackney carriage drivers to upgrade to cleaner EURO 6 and fully battery powered vehicles has been launched.
The ride-hailing giant has submitted an application for an operator licence to Darlington Borough Council, with a decision expected in August.
Darlington could soon see Uber cars on its streets after the ride-hailing giant applied for a licence to operate in the town.
Stratford-upon-Avon District Council has revoked the licences of two taxi drivers following a series of speeding offences.
A Northampton taxi driver has been found guilty of trafficking cocaine between his home city and Milford Haven.
The move comes after concerns were raised by the taxi industry about the rising cost of purchasing new vehicles.
Guide Dogs charity has asked licensing authorities in England for their support in sharing guidance on the law on carrying guide or other assistance dogs with all taxi and private hire operators.
Reading Taxi Association (RTA) chairman Asif Rashid has slammed Reading Borough Council's proposed phase-out of older petrol and diesel cabs by 2028, calling it a financial burden for drivers.
Dorset Council is poised to review taxi fares across the region, excluding Weymouth and Portland which have separate regulations.
A North Belfast man, Ruairi Fintan Muldoon (31), has been sentenced to 12 months in prison with an additional 12 months on supervised release for a botched attempt to rob a taxi driver.
Passengers are been invited to take part in a survey aimed at finding out if the taxi trade in West Suffolk is accessible to all.
A Glasgow man, Darren Gray, 31, launched into a verbal tirade and racially abused a taxi driver on Paisley Road West on August 19th, 2022.