Taxi standards Q?.

togster · 29-11-2007 12:11PM

Mairt wrote: »

But I'll just speak from experience.

.

In fairness he asked you for evidence of foreign taxi drivers commiting crimes. You can't have one rule for Irish and one for Foreign Nationals. There are scumbags everywhere. And in my experience any crime i or anyone i know have witnessed was by irish skangers. Your argument is bogus tbh

ojewriej · 29-11-2007 12:20PM

Mairt wrote: »

Listen Pal, just keep pushing the right buttons.

Lets not pretend your all lilly white buddy, because I also believe far tougher regulation should be brought in for all kinds of foreign nationals working here.

But I'll just speak from experience.

Eastern EU bouncer's in clubs and bar's. And remember this is coming from personal experience.

In over fifteen year's working in bar's and clubs I don't ever remember ONE, not a single incident of an Irish member of security robbing a customer. But I've witness countless incidents of Eastern EU bouncers taking (mostly young girls) passports from them, telling them its a false passport and asking the girl to come back to the club ''tomorrow'' to have it collected - result -passport and bouncer are never to be seen again.

But more common is assaults on punters. Almost 100% of the time the bouncer flee's, the bar or club can't trace him and if they do he's been living with mates who (of course) haven't a clue where he's living now!.

I have NEVER seen this happen with Irish security staff, so pal don't try to kid me that there's no need for stringent regulations for foreign nationals working in certain industries.

I'll just finish by saying that in my experience there's also as many very fine Non-Irish citizens living and working here. Contributing very positively to our economy, but don't try for a moment pretend that its everyone and that we shouldn't have measures to protect everyone from the bad one's.

Listen pal, I'm all for regulation, i just don't see why should the taxi Drivers have Irish Citizenship - given that they are allowed to work in Ireland. Background Checks and proper exams as well. I would also agree with at least a year of experience on the irish roads. But Irish Citizenship, I really can't see why. You didn't manage to convince me. You said something about getting a licence, commiting a crime and running out ouf Ireland. I really can't understand how whould that work. You don't need a licence to commit a crime.

And i thought we were talking about Taxi Drivers, not bouncers? I think it's do different issues. Bouncers are in a kind of a law enforcment industry, whereas driving a taxi is just customer service. Two diffferent things.

You say you witnessed EE bouncers stealing peoples passports and dissapearing? Many times? How come you didn't do anything to stop that?

And as for this:

Mairt wrote: »

Lets not pretend your all lilly white buddy

I'm sorry, i don't know what that means.

Spook_ie · 29-11-2007 12:30PM

ojewriej wrote: »

That's fair enough, but then the problem is not only with the foreign people, but for instance people from Galway who want to be Taxi Drivers in Dublin>

I don't recall saying that the problem is with foreign drivers or for that matter culchies wanting to drive in Dublin, what I have said is that the requirements for obtaining a drivers SPSV license need to be standardised and toughened up.

Among these things should be such things as

The Garda being able to check up for a 5 year period on the suitability of applicants. If this isn't can't be done ( for whatever reason ) then the applicant should have been required to reside in Ireland for 5 years

The license to be endorsable ( no driving on an EU license from outside Ireland )

The invoking of Section 36 of the Taxi Regulation Act of 2003

The requirement for people who have never driven in Ireland to submit to a two year probationary period ( similar to the probationary period proposed for L drivers who have just passed the test ) before being allowed to drive an SPSV

The applicant being able to show an understanding of how to get from A to B without going via C, if this meant the need for a practical driving examination ( instead of on paper ) then so be it

The applicant being able to show that they can drive with reasonable care and consideration for other road users

ojewriej · 29-11-2007 12:34PM

Spook_ie wrote: »

I don't recall saying that the problem is with foreign drivers or for that matter culchies wanting to drive in Dublin, what I have said is that the requirements for obtaining a drivers SPSV license need to be standardised and toughened up.

Sorry, got confused there.

Yeah, i would definitely see what you are proposing as fair.

humbert · 29-11-2007 01:34PM

SimpleSam06 wrote: »

Giving receipts is mandatory. I'm fairly sure they also include the distance travelled / time spent as well.

I thought it was the case that being able to provide receipts was mandatory, I was suggesting that they should be offered as a matter of course as with most other purchases.

I mentioned including where you were picked up and left off so as to rule out any doubt that the driver took half way around the world for fun. This would rule out that sort of suspicion which could only be good for both taxi drivers and customers. Preventing the usual, "I didn't spend 80 euro last night, that nasty taxi driver must have robbed me", type rubbish.

Spook_ie · 29-11-2007 02:13PM

humbert wrote: »

I thought it was the case that being able to provide receipts was mandatory, I was suggesting that they should be offered as a matter of course as with most other purchases.

I mentioned including where you were picked up and left off so as to rule out any doubt that the driver took half way around the world for fun. This would rule out that sort of suspicion which could only be good for both taxi drivers and customers. Preventing the usual, "I didn't spend 80 euro last night, that nasty taxi driver must have robbed me", type rubbish.

The TR has said that taxis should provide receipts to customers for all journeys, the meter is ( supposed to be ) linked up to a receipt printer and giving the customer a receipt is not a big deal, however, the problem would arise when the customer is given a receipt and then throws it away as litter. As the receipt has the plate number and registration of the car on it the litter is directly linked to the driver and as such he could be prosecuted for littering, similar to why you see MacD and BurgerKing sweeping up outside after closing ( They didn't throw the litter down but they are responsible, a similer situation occured with ATM receipts and AFAIK they now only print a receipt when asked )

As for receipts giving details of where you were picked up that would entail having a meter linked to a GPS system of somekind, yet more expense, besides which I don't think there are any meters that are Audible ( the TR wants them for disabled passengers ) as well as GPS enabled.

The bottom dollar of all this is " IF you want a better taxi service, IT has to be paid for." Now with the present deregulation and ease of entry into the market I don't feel confident enough to reinvest more money into newer cars and newer technology, when the returns may not even provide me and my family with an average living wage, and before you harp on about taxi drivers rolling in money I will remind you that from my money earned I have to allow for health, pension, tax and reinvestment costs before I can spend a cent as my own....

humbert · 29-11-2007 02:22PM

Spook_ie wrote: »

The TR has said that taxis should provide receipts to customers for all journeys, the meter is ( supposed to be ) linked up to a receipt printer and giving the customer a receipt is not a big deal, however, the problem would arise when the customer is given a receipt and then throws it away as litter. As the receipt has the plate number and registration of the car on it the litter is directly linked to the driver and as such he could be prosecuted for littering, similar to why you see MacD and BurgerKing sweeping up outside after closing ( They didn't throw the litter down but they are responsible, a similer situation occured with ATM receipts and AFAIK they now only print a receipt when asked )

As for receipts giving details of where you were picked up that would entail having a meter linked to a GPS system of somekind, yet more expense, besides which I don't think there are any meters that are Audible ( the TR wants them for disabled passengers ) as well as GPS enabled.

The bottom dollar of all this is " IF you want a better taxi service, IT has to be paid for." Now with the present deregulation and ease of entry into the market I don't feel confident enough to reinvest more money into newer cars and newer technology, when the returns may not even provide me and my family with an average living wage, and before you harp on about taxi drivers rolling in money I will remind you that from my money earned I have to allow for health, pension, tax and reinvestment costs before I can spend a cent as my own....

I can appreciate that it would be expensive so I'm not criticising anyone for not providing it.

If shops can give out receipts I think taxi drivers should be allowed to without fear of being fined. I thought that places like BK were only responsible for the area around their premises.

Spook_ie · 29-11-2007 02:44PM

From the Dublin City Litter Action Plan

Litter Plan Dublin City

4.5.1 All citizens are obligated under the Litter Pollution Act 1997 to take reasonable measures to prevent litter. The following are issues and requirements: bringing all wrappings, packaging, cigarette ends etc. to a litter bin and not thoughtlessly dropping them on the street; throwing a cigarette end out of a car window is an offence and can lead to a fine (the owner of the car is responsible for any litter thrown from a vehicle and owners can be traced from the car registration number); pet owners are
responsible for removing all dog fouling caused by their dog; unauthorised posters are considered litter and the organisation that put them up can be fined, the distribution of advertising or promotional material (flyers) is a litter offence unless a Local Authority permit is obtained; parents of school children should encourage a caring attitude through education and by setting a good example.

humbert · 29-11-2007 03:03PM

Fair enough, technically you could get in trouble. It should be officially cleared up to remove ambiguity wrt taxi drivers.

ojewriej · 29-11-2007 03:29PM

Spook_ie wrote: »

From the Dublin City Litter Action Plan

Litter Plan Dublin City

4.(the owner of the car is responsible for any litter thrown from a vehicle and owners can be traced from the car registration number); .

That is pretty stupid. Do they fine Dublin Bus I wonder?

Spook_ie · 29-11-2007 03:46PM

ojewriej wrote: »

That is pretty stupid. Do they fine Dublin Bus I wonder?

Who knows but as far as I'm concerned if you want a receipt, ask and you can have one, but I'm not handing them over just for people to throw away on the street!

humbert · 29-11-2007 04:05PM

Actually for a receipt to be discarded it wouldn't really be thrown from the vehicle, it would be discarded after the person got out, so probably like dublin bus taxi drivers would be fine.

OPENROAD · 29-11-2007 09:21PM

A question for the taxi drivers, why oh why don't you use the light on your taxi correctly i.e. if you are free you have the light on, if you are not turn it off!!!!

Spook_ie · 29-11-2007 09:58PM

OPENROAD wrote: »

A question for the taxi drivers, why oh why don't you use the light on your taxi correctly i.e. if you are free you have the light on, if you are not turn it off!!!!

its a very good question and other than some people have wonky meters and not bothered to spend a few bob on a manual overide switch, or if they do have an overide switch they forget to use it. There is no reason. Me I have an overide switch on the dash ( Big fecky bright light on it ) so I can see if I forgot to turn it on/off, doesn't stop people trying to get in the car at lights though even when my lights off.....thank god for central locking

2qk4u · 29-11-2007 11:28PM

I use a satalite system,my meter is connected to the data head.If I turn of my roof sign when Im on my way to pick up people the system thinks Im allready on the job and sometimes sends me a second job.Then when I get to the pick up point and need the sign on so people know which taxi is for them I cant turn it back on because the system thinks ive dropped off and trys to send me another job.Then I get the base controller calling me to see why im not accepting the job.
I have a button on my meter that allows me turn off the sign but its not very compatable with the satalite systems.Most of the time I turn it off but sometimes I need it on for people to find me.

OPENROAD · 30-11-2007 12:26AM

2qk4u wrote: »

I use a satalite system,my meter is connected to the data head.If I turn of my roof sign when Im on my way to pick up people the system thinks Im allready on the job and sometimes sends me a second job.Then when I get to the pick up point and need the sign on so people know which taxi is for them I cant turn it back on because the system thinks ive dropped off and trys to send me another job.Then I get the base controller calling me to see why im not accepting the job.
I have a button on my meter that allows me turn off the sign but its not very compatable with the satalite systems.Most of the time I turn it off but sometimes I need it on for people to find me.

Don't you think it should be compatable?

Its absolutely mad, a taxi comes along with its light on, you put your hand out to hail it drives by, another taxi with light off stops, it madness imo, the customer hasn't got a clue if a taxi is free or not.

2qk4u · 30-11-2007 12:39AM

I agree, all that technology and they cant tell if the taxi is engaged or the sign is switched off...
As for drivers picking up when their light is off, this will allways happen because a lot of drivers are very choosy who they pick up.

Taxi standards Q?.

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