ForumGarden

about two years ago my city had a big expose in the paper about 85% of the cabbies being ex-cons, felons, having no valid driving or hack licenses. they drive these broken down heaps. many of them here are really pimping females, selling dope and buying alcohol for minors. the cab companies whined about how they had no choice but to hire cons and perverts and thieves. it never got cleaned up. please understand, i like to see ex-cons get jobs. but i don't like what i know they are doing under the guise of the job. we are a popular tourist area, and the tourists simply don't know any better as they hail these bums. we can only deal with them one by one of course, but they are like a fleet of predators. well i just went to the store and as i was coming out i see a cabbie park right in the fire lane, next to the "do not park" sign, to go in the liquor store. there was plenty of normal parking within 45 feet! well i waited for him to go do his shopping, then went in behind him, showed him my badge, :yh_star and told him to go move that cab right this minute! then asked for his hack license and drivers license. of course he had none, so i got a cruiser and had his unhappy butt hauled off to the jail. and had his cab towed! LOL another blow for the honest cabbies of the world! he won't be buying his booze supply today. be aware where you live, look for that hack license and a quick glance to see if the vehicle is better than the rejects at the junkyard! anyway, made my day. :wah:

When we were visiting my son at university in Minneapolis, we had to take a taxi and much of what you say seemed to be true: rustbucket on wheels, seedy-looking bloke driving, no seat belts, seats falling in, etc. Then I suddenly looked up and saw that this guy had a Bible on his dashboard and a rosary bead hanging down from his rear view mirror and I immediately thought, "Whoops, shouldn`t judge a book by its cover!!!"

every inmate in our jail has a bible handy. what you should have seen was a current valid hack license. and the equipment, such as seat belts, are a passenger safety issue.

My local council do a police check on applicants before they issue private hire licences, along with their own MOT, if the car does'nt pass their strict guidelines then they dont get a plate for the vehicle.

Not 100% certain but i'm sure that in London, anyone who has a car can use it as a private hire (taxi) which just leads to drivers driving clapped out deathtraps, no valid insurance, no police checks etc..

Please correct me anyone if i'm wrong.