 Penalty notices Some of you will have seen recent news items on the television with reference to the ongoing penalty charge notices drivers have and are still receiving from various authorities – Camden in particular. During one of the reports, the London Cab Driver’s Club (LCDC) took it upon themselves to organise a drive-in, protesting about the unfair issue of the penalty notices to taxi drivers and the unwarranted attack on our industry, which is proving to be not only costly but also a hindrance to both drivers and the taxi travelling public. During a televised interview, LCDC Chairman Alan Fleming, claimed that Camden and other councils had no regard to those that live and worked in their areas. Taxi drivers, of course, are a group that work in the Camden area 24 hours each and every day. We pick up and drop off passengers constantly, but do not pose a security risk or prevent the flow of traffic. Therefore, using CCTV evidence prior to fines being issued makes it quite apparent where their interests lie. That is in just one direction – the one that fills the Council’s purse coffers the quickest. Dial-a-Cab also has to pay dearly for the penalty charges issued to its members when they are picking up a legitimate credit account hiring. With this in mind, some DaC members and myself have written to the various councils and their parking enforcement contractors as well as having one-to-one discussions with some of those council’s representatives, stating both our concerns and frustrations. Speaking to an MP some time ago about another taxi-related matter, it was said that due to the fact the taxi industry was so diverse within its various |
Having undergone surgery for the repair of a
hernia, Mike Son has been away from DaC for a few weeks.
Consequently, Call Sign offered him the one-off opportunity to put
aside his usual report and write more on trade matters… SPEAKING PERSONALLY |
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representative organisations, whether it be
governmental or local legislator’s, they would not review or change
recent laws. Therefore, when speaking to parking enforcement
officers, it appears that although there is sympathy for our plight,
unless the legislation is changed there isn’t much that can be done
and the issue of penalty charge notices will continue. However, if the taxi trade and their representatives were to work together, I believe there could be a resolve to this matter. For as long as I can remember, the taxi trade’s various organisations has been very fragmented in approaches to past issues, although during recent times there has been some cohesion with some taxi organisations when tackling certain situations. Dial-a-Cab Chairman, Brian Rice, has had many meetings with authorative bodies when protecting the interest of our members. Whilst having a great deal of success, he has also written many times of the problems he encounters during those meetings when told that we have far too many small factions, all apparently battling against each other! I second his desire to see a far more united trade. This trade in its entirety needs to work more closely together, especially when there are such profound issues as at this time, |
where councils are preventing us performing our
lawful duty as Licensed London Taxi Driver’s or at the very least,
charging us to do so by the fines being imposed. Many of you will remember reading about Sid Nathan (K88) in Call Sign last year when he was fined after being caught on CCTV waiting for his passenger for four minutes and a half minutes whilst that passenger went to buy a bottle of milk from a supermarket. This was well after midnight and Sid waited within the confines of a marked-out bus stop, but well away from the stop itself. No buses came during that period and traffic was very light. Yet through CCTV, Sid received a penalty ticket. It was only thanks to Sid’s perseverance that he was finally let off the fine and given a smack on the wrist instead (don’t do it again). Fixed Rates Mike Son |
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M&O NOW HAVE FOUR CABS WITH DAC TERMINALS |
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Mann & Overton have four courtesy taxis fitted with Dial-a-Cab
terminals and DaC drivers attending the Holloway Road dealership for
servicing or overhauls have the chance of a free DaC-fitted TX1 or
TXII while their own vehicle is being worked on. Speaking to Call Sign, M&O General Service Manager Mike Saunders said: "With the co-operation of the DaC Board who have made available the radio equipment, we are delighted to provide this facility for our Dial-a-Cab customers. It allows drivers to continue servicing account clients while their own cab is here. I would remind every-one though, that these courtesy cabs are subject to availability and not guaranteed." You can contact M&O Service Dept. on 020 7700 0888... |
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