Call Sign July 2011
Page 6
Jery's
World
"I like these taxi chat sites, they give me the chance to pass a worthwhile opinion!"
Speeding offences? Blame the taxi business!
speeding ticket and much later, a moving viola-
seemed a very pleasant place.
tion.
Even President William
So thanks to Jacob German and Harry
McKinley was still looked
Myers, it's really is the fault of the cab trade -
upon as a hero for leading
after all, everything else is!
the nation to victory in 90
days in the Spanish American
War!
No wonder Jacob's atten-
tion wandered and his cab's
speed began to creep
upwards until exceeding the
speed limit. It was May 20,
1899 and with his attention
distracted through sheer hap-
piness, he shot along at a
blistering 12mph when he
obviously must have known
that the speed limit was 8
miles per hour on straight
roads and 4 miles per hour
when turning!
· Roadside repair
Speedy Jacob!
A police officer on a bicycle
· Roadside assistance
On January 28, 1896, Walter Arnold of East
saw the taxi shooting along and promptly arrested
· Running repair recovery
Peckham then in Kent rather than south London
Jacob. He was taken to the East 22nd Street sta-
- was whizzing along at a disturbing 8mph when
tion house where he was locked up for several
· Accident recovery
he knew he was in a 2mph zone! This act of devil-
hours. He wasn't fined as the "crime" wasn't yet
· Pay as you go to membership
ry cost Walter a one shilling fine and sent him into
on the statute books!
the record books as the first ever speeding offend-
· Credit card taken at roadside
A fining system was brought in after Jacob's
er!
case, but the first known paper speeding ticket
Then just three years later, 26 year old New
was issued to another cab driver in the United
0845 094 5307
York taxi driver Jacob German was driving
States - Harry Myers in Dayton Ohio. It was four
down Lexington Street in Manhattan in his
years after Jacob German had been caught.
Electric Vehicle Company electric taxi. The sun
We make wheels turn
Harry was also driving at 12mph when he was
was shining, the birds were singing, several
spotted by the police and much to his surprise,
so you can earn.
people were looking for cabs and the world
was given what was to become known as a
