Taxi Driver Online

Council killjoys ban taxi driver from having St George's Cross on cab for 'discrimination'

A TAXI taxi driver has been banned from having a St George's Cross sticker in her cab - because it could discriminate against foreigners.
Patriotic Denise Said, 56, has three English flag signs stuck on the doors and boot of her vehicle.

But after one complaint from a rival cab firm she was stunned to receive a letter from the council accusing her of breaching equality laws.

Teignbridge Council in Devon said the stickers would leave anyone who is not English at a "disadvantage in their day to day life".

The local authority says it will refuse to renew Denise's license in February unless she ditches the stickers.

But the veteran driver of Newton Abbott, Devon, has vowed to keep flying the flag and says there's nothing offensive about them.

Furious Denise said: "I think it's pathetic. I believe the council is implying that I am racist but nothing could be further from the truth.

"I've had a few foreign people in my cab and I've asked them if they find it offensive and they don't in the slightest. In fact, one told me 'your country has gone mad'.

"You only have to sneeze now for someone to find it offensive. I've asked a solicitor who says I'm not doing anything wrong.

"The upsetting thing is that I could lose my livelihood and my home if they take away my license." Denise has been displaying the St George's Crosses for a year without a single complaint before a rival reported her.

But when she rang Teignbridge Council to remonstrate about the ban she says she was told the stickers were denigrating and offensive to foreigners.

The stickers have the words 'Local Driver' on them which the council said was not acceptable.

Self-employed Denise, who was married to a half-Maltese man for 16 years, says the stickers on her Volkswagen Touran people carrier are not offending anyone.

The mum-of-one added: "You can gather from my name my ex husband was foreign.

"I was told it was the council's policy regarding equality. I do not think that displaying the words 'Local Driver' is upsetting anyone or is derogatory in any way.

"I am a local driver and have been driving in Newton Abbott for 16 years.

"I'm British, I'm a local driver - where is the problem? I don't discriminate against anyone who gets into my car.

"I've discussed it with my daughter and she's totally behind me. There's no way I'm backing down on this." The council said the authority's Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy contained restrictions on the signs and adverts allowed on taxis.

A spokesman said: "Adverts or signs that do not comply with our equality duties, or cause offence because words or signs carry a certain inference, breach this policy.

"In this instance the English flag sign combined with the words Local Driver could put other people who don't share either of those characteristics at a disadvantage in their day to day life.

"We always ensure we are providing fair services for all by complying with the Equality Act 2010 - legislation that is designed to protect all cultures in our society." Cllr Mark Walters, the council's spokesman for corporate services, confirmed a single complaint had been received.

He added: "In their view the message could be interpreted as discriminatory. We always look at complaints and as a responsible licensing authority we have a statutory duty to promote equality and ensure fairness for all.

"On this occasion we felt the complaint was reasonable."

source: http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/437673 ... rimination

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I see.....I wonder if this story has anything to do with it??


Teignbridge Council dilemma over Romanian taxi drivers

A Devon council is planning to change its policy on criminal record and health checks for taxi drivers after a local firm said it wants to employ Romanian workers.

Teignbridge District Council has received driver applications from Romanian nationals who have been brought over to work in the district by a local company.

Councillors on the authority’s regulatory and appeals committee have been told that as a result of the applications, in October last year, it now needs to amend its policy to deal with criminal records and medical examinations for foreign nationals.

UK citizens who want to become a taxi driver must be checked through the Criminal Records Bureau and also have their health and fitness confirmed with a medical certificate from a doctor who has full access to the applicant’s medical records.

Councillors are being advised that similar systems may not exist in other countries and the council has spent some time in contact with the Romanian Embassy to clarify matters and taken advice from the Home Office and Department for Transport.

Council officers have made recommendations to change the licensing system for taxi drivers so that checks on the background and health of applicants from other countries can be made.

Councillor Alan Connett, chairman of Teignbridge council’s scrutiny committee, said he was surprised to learn a local taxi firm needed to bring in drivers from abroad.

“In the current climate, many people might be surprised, he added.

“You would have thought this is the type of work that could be recruited to locally, especially as knowledge of the area can be important and valued by customers.”

The regulatory and appeals committee meets on Thursday to consider the proposals.

source: http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Sounds about right.

Is it fair to presume this maybe a two horse town - and one of the horses is treble shifted with Romanian riders?

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Copied from EARLIER thread on this story see i'm not the only one

Lots of vehicles go around displaying their national flag why is it that it is deemed inappropriate for taxis but not for everyone else. perhaps she should obtain some of the FSB's keep trade local stickers surely the council can't object to them ?

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

As CC stated on the original thread, it may have been the wording which this council took exception to.
Perhaps she should remove the signs and replace them with separate ones. Then ask the council which if any they objected to and why?

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

Personally I'd appeal against the council' decision to the magistrates court, especially as they are unfairly discriminating against British drivers when it comes to CRB checks and medicals!

I bought up a similar matter with the authorities a year or so ago alleging the speeding laws discriminated against drivers with UK licence, as they had penalty points AND a fine, whereas any foreign driver just gets a fine. so far an admission of yes well...

How does that work then? I thought with them having a UK driving licence they had the same points and fines as us UK drivers?

Get stopped on the M20 for speeding with a UK licence, you get £60 and 3 points. Get stopped on the M20 for speeding you get a fine and no points on your licence. Simples. Discriminates against UK licence holders.

There is no requirement for an EU licence holder to get a UK licence to work here. So, if there's no way of doing a CRB check for an EU national, then in my view we, as UK citizens, are being checked while others are not! Discrimination?

My LA banned drivers here from displaying the St.Georges Cross flag a couple of years ago when the footie was on. they had to relent after none of the drivers took a blind bit of notice of the edict and there was an outcry in the local press.

Mmmmm interesting indeed. So basically we get points as well as a fine but all they get is a fine with no points?

Keep em out...best option.

I agree, it's not that simple now the doors are wide open.

Are any of these feasible conditions to be imposed?

toughen up the knowledge test, and
introduce it for PH.
insist on DSA advanced driver training
UK licence held for 2 years.

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My heart is heavy, but my consience clear,
I voted Yes, without any fear.

It will sort itself out in 10 years or less as there will be standing room only In Britain and no one else will can get on..

In terms of points maybe, but not in terms of fines and costs.

If a license can't have points added then it can't be dealt with by way of a fixed penalty.

Therefore it must be dealt with by the courts.

Someone earning, say £400 a week, will pay (if they plead guilty) a fine of £133, costs in the region of £80 and a victim surcharge of £20.

In other words UK license holders will pay £80 plus 3 points, others will pay around £233.

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IDFIMH