Who Wags the Dog....by Thomas the Taxi.

A Flood of Complaints:
Complaints have flooded in from drivers over the past couple of months, that Addison Lee are contravening the Private hire act in the form of forming illegal ranks, some are saying this is to provoke a high court battle to give Private hire shared use of our ranks. 
Not only are they  "Standing waiting to be hired" they are regularly parking on Licensed Taxi ranks.


John Mason has been informed and has supposedly had meetings with the management at Grosvenor House Hotel (One of the most abused ranks) and we have been told that a couple of hundred penalty charge tickets have been issued. Unfortunately there doesn't seem any evidence that this is having the desired affect.


But the problem is much bigger than just one rank:
Night after night, Griffins vans continue to stand on the GHH rank something stinks here. 


Griffin to take on TfL? 
Griffin goads TfL, in the same way he took on the authorities over the M4 bus lane issue? (And we all know what happened there).
But Mason seems petrified of taking on Addison Lee's perpetual rule breaking. Probably because TfL is said not have the budget for a court battle with Griffin.


Well John, what about the one million pound you just found laying in the cupboard? Use that.


Every night more and more license taxi ranks are seen to be taken over by these imitation taxi's. The rank of many hotels seem to be the latest target with the main contravention happening every night on the Grosvenor Crescent Rank.


The Anderson Shelter calls on all License Taxi drivers to complain direct to the Director of Taxis and private hire, John Mason and tell him, if he doesn't stamp out this problem now it will soon escalate in to a situation where violence could break out at these sites. He must have the courage of his convictions and enforce the law now. 


Contact Mason by Email at: 


johnmason@tfl.gov.uk
  


A Solution:
The Anderson Shelter would like to offer a solution to this problem!
Give Cab Enforcement a couple of radio controlled smart cars which could be directed to hot spots. 
On arrival tickets could be issued to the offending PHV drivers.
This operation would be self funding.
Plus;
If PHV drivers are convicted of touting, their vehicles should be taken away and crushed.

It simple! Works fine in New York. 
(Although in that city, all the cab drivers carry guns).
  
Question To John Mason:
Have you read TfL Press releases appertaining to this offence? Obviously not.
So we will just remind in true blue peter fashion  " One that was prepared earlier".


PCO Notice 07/09
Further guidance for the drivers of private hire vehicles

Taxi Ranks
Drivers of PHVs are reminded that they must not park or wait on taxi ranks.
The driver and owner of any vehicle except for a licensed hackney carriage found standing on a rank may be liable to a fine of up to £2,500.

Mary Dowdye
25 March 2009 Head of Standards & Regulations


For full Press release click here