One particular jobsworth who isn't BiB
Discussion
I drive a taxi for a living and the local council environmental health Senior Enforcement Officer has recently taken to handing out summary suspensions for petty misdemeanours. So far I've not received any myself but to do so would greatly inconvenience me as without holding a taxi licence I cannot drive my own car, not even for private use.
He's handed out half a dozen such suspensions in the last fortnight for the following:
A driver needed to swap cars because one had broken down. He arrived on the taxi rank having effected the swap without his ID badge and upon being spotted by our nice man above realising he'd left it in the other car at our depot only 50 yds from the rank, immediately went to collect it. He was suspended for 48 hours effective the following day.
Another was suspended for not moving into the next space in front of him on the rank immediately as it has been vacated. The rank itself shares space with the market traders carpark. The view of the spaces in front can be obscured by cars on market days. We also read newspapers etc. while queuing on the rank.
A colleague was given a 48 hour suspension for picking up a disabled passenger from the entrance to a pub 50 yds inside a pedestrian area. This offence if dealt with by the police would carry no more than a non-endorsable £30 FPN. This guy has appealed to a magistrates court and if he wins the taxpayer foots the bill.
A driver was seen using a handheld mobile phone while driving. He has been given a 4 day suspension. Fair enough, I've no problem with this particular case. The rest of us use earpieces.
Finally a driver has received a 24 hour suspension for having zipped up his fleece (he was cold) and by so doing had concealed his ID badge.
The last one was particularly petty and I'm thinking of organising a 24 hour protest announced in the local press where every driver will wear their badges covered up in the same fashion whilst allowing any MoP to see them upon request.
It is only a matter of time before I receive a suspension as I never wear my ID when on private business, not since I had my car broken into last year when I was parked in Cheadle near Manchester and the badge was stolen along with my change dispenser. I returned to my car to find two very nice BiBs from the Manchester Met standing guard by my vehicle having tried to empty my car of as much broken glass with their bare hands before putting layers of plastic sheeting on my seat. They gave me a crime number. I thanked them for having stood by my car for an hour or so and went on my way.
Was I to say to thse nice policemen, "sorry guys you'll have to stand guard by my vehicle for another two days yet while I get a train home and get my badge replaced tomorrow before coming back up on the train. I can't drive it without my ID badge."?
I reported the badge stolen the following day and the council officer I spoke to (a different one) expressed concern that the badge may have fallen into the wrong hands... I pointed out that Manchester is a good 70 miles from our district.
From that day on if I'm out in my car while off duty the ID badge stays at home. I feel that the public interest is put at greater risk if my badge can be lost or stolen and possibly fall into the wrong hands. However, if the aforementioned jobsworth sees my driving without it through my windscreen he'll suspend me, even if the only passenger on board is my wife sat next to me.
I and several of my colleagues have made official complaints to the licensing committee but as yet Jobsworth has ignored any requests to use due discretion.
What do we do next?
He's handed out half a dozen such suspensions in the last fortnight for the following:
A driver needed to swap cars because one had broken down. He arrived on the taxi rank having effected the swap without his ID badge and upon being spotted by our nice man above realising he'd left it in the other car at our depot only 50 yds from the rank, immediately went to collect it. He was suspended for 48 hours effective the following day.
Another was suspended for not moving into the next space in front of him on the rank immediately as it has been vacated. The rank itself shares space with the market traders carpark. The view of the spaces in front can be obscured by cars on market days. We also read newspapers etc. while queuing on the rank.
A colleague was given a 48 hour suspension for picking up a disabled passenger from the entrance to a pub 50 yds inside a pedestrian area. This offence if dealt with by the police would carry no more than a non-endorsable £30 FPN. This guy has appealed to a magistrates court and if he wins the taxpayer foots the bill.
A driver was seen using a handheld mobile phone while driving. He has been given a 4 day suspension. Fair enough, I've no problem with this particular case. The rest of us use earpieces.
Finally a driver has received a 24 hour suspension for having zipped up his fleece (he was cold) and by so doing had concealed his ID badge.
The last one was particularly petty and I'm thinking of organising a 24 hour protest announced in the local press where every driver will wear their badges covered up in the same fashion whilst allowing any MoP to see them upon request.
It is only a matter of time before I receive a suspension as I never wear my ID when on private business, not since I had my car broken into last year when I was parked in Cheadle near Manchester and the badge was stolen along with my change dispenser. I returned to my car to find two very nice BiBs from the Manchester Met standing guard by my vehicle having tried to empty my car of as much broken glass with their bare hands before putting layers of plastic sheeting on my seat. They gave me a crime number. I thanked them for having stood by my car for an hour or so and went on my way.
Was I to say to thse nice policemen, "sorry guys you'll have to stand guard by my vehicle for another two days yet while I get a train home and get my badge replaced tomorrow before coming back up on the train. I can't drive it without my ID badge."?
I reported the badge stolen the following day and the council officer I spoke to (a different one) expressed concern that the badge may have fallen into the wrong hands... I pointed out that Manchester is a good 70 miles from our district.
From that day on if I'm out in my car while off duty the ID badge stays at home. I feel that the public interest is put at greater risk if my badge can be lost or stolen and possibly fall into the wrong hands. However, if the aforementioned jobsworth sees my driving without it through my windscreen he'll suspend me, even if the only passenger on board is my wife sat next to me.
I and several of my colleagues have made official complaints to the licensing committee but as yet Jobsworth has ignored any requests to use due discretion.
What do we do next?
Edited by Steven Toy on Wednesday 3rd October 15:11
I can think of two cases local to me in recent years where young women have been murdered because they got into fake taxis. So I can't argue with the no-ID, no-work ethic imposed by this fellow.
I'm guessing that the regulation for wearing your ID when off-duty relates to the fact you car carries those little plates with the number on?
I'm guessing that the regulation for wearing your ID when off-duty relates to the fact you car carries those little plates with the number on?
R_U_LOCAL said:
Steven Toy said:
What do we do next?
Dunno - make sure you don't break the rules?Just a suggestion.
timskipper said:
I'm guessing that the regulation for wearing your ID when off-duty relates to the fact you car carries those little plates with the number on?
Yes. However off duty means taxi light and meter switched off. It also means not plying for hire on any taxi rank and not picking up any passngers.Edited by Steven Toy on Wednesday 3rd October 15:25
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I am sure that they would be interested in this.
I am sure that they would be interested in this.
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