Brussels (Reuters) - The European Commission will launch a study in September of the ride-hailing app Uber in an effort to settle legal disputes that have pitched the U.S. start-up against conventional taxis across Europe, three people familiar with the matter said on Friday.

Since opening in Paris in 2011, San Francisco-based Uber has run into vehement opposition from taxi drivers, who complain it competes unfairly by bypassing local laws on licensing and safety.

Uber has responded by submitting complaints to the European Commission against German and Spanish court bans, as well as a new French law on taxis.

The study will attempt to determine the legal instruments Brussels might use to decide whether Uber is a transport service or just a digital service, an EU official said.

Uber argues it is a digital platform that connects willing drivers with customers. Being considered a transport service might make it subject to stricter rules on licensing, insurance and safety.

The study will review the regulatory regimes for taxi services in all member states and assess if an EU-wide framework is needed. Currently, taxis and vehicle-with-chauffeur services are regulated at a national level.

“This investigation appears to indicate that the European Commission believes that the manner in which the taxi and private hire sectors are currently regulated in some member states is dysfunctional and is no longer fit for purpose, not to mention new barriers to entry for innovative, technology-based services such as ridesharing," an Uber spokeswoman said.

The study will run in parallel with a case at the European Union's top court that could set a precedent for legal battles across the continent. However, it is likely the European Court of Justice will rule before the completion of the study, expected around June next year.

In the meantime, the Commission will also continue assessing the complaints against France, Germany and Spain.

In May, the Commission asked France for more information on its new taxi law, which Uber says favours regular taxis at its expense.

The Commission has previously said it welcomes innovative services such as Uber as part of the so-called sharing economy - where individuals are put in touch with others offering services, such as travel or accommodation.

However, businesses such as Uber should not circumvent national laws on taxation, safety and social aspects, EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc said in a letter to a member of the European Parliament in February.

The sharing economy has flummoxed policymakers, torn between promoting innovative services and ensuring that incumbent industries can still compete on fair grounds. "There needs to be a middle way", said an EU official.

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/regulate-not-regulate-eu-launch-020609301.html
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A taxi driver had to be cut free from his car after becoming trapped following a collision in Stalybridge.

The collision involving two cars happened on Mottram Road at 12.20am on Sunday morning.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said the damage to the taxi on the driver’s side made it difficult for crews to to release the trapped driver.

The driver of the other car was able to get out of his vehicle.

Both of the men were treated by paramedics at the scene and taken to hospital for further treatment.

Fire crews from Ashton and Stalybridge were at the scene for about an hour.

http://tinyurl.com/nq2lafg
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BIRMINGHAM

 A taxi passenger was described as 'hard as nails' after climbing out of a cab after it crashed and flipped over and immediately flagging down another.

The grey Peugeot rolled onto its roof in the early hours of this morning as it was travelling along Church Road in Moseley, Birmingham.

The driver of the vehicle was taken to hospital after the crash at around 5.30am, but incredibly, the passenger clambered out of the wrecked car and simply caught another cab home.

Student Dan Williams was walking home from a night out when he witnessed the aftermath of the crash.

The 21-year-old said: 'Whoever was in the car must have been one tough cookie to get out and just walk away.

'I think you have to be hard as nails to just get another taxi. The car was a write-off.'

Police are investigating the cause of the crash.

http://goo.gl/XDqMRc

 LOS ANGELES

WEST COVINA (CBSLA.com) — Authorities say a death investigation is underway in West Covina after a woman’s body was found inside a vehicle.

West Covina police say around noon Tuesday, officers received a call by a person who noticed a body hunched over in the backseat of a gray Volkswagen sedan.

The discovery was made in a Stater Bros. parking lot in the 300 block of North Azusa Avenue.

Although investigators haven’t released the woman’s identity, DMV records show the car is registered to an Orange County woman and the coroner’s office confirms they’re working her case. The cause of death was not immediately known.

On the windshield of a vehicle, an Uber sticker turned sideways was visible, reported CBS2’s Rachel Kim. Police, however, say they cannot confirm whether the woman was a driver for the company.

“Detectives are going to do their investigation and maybe find out how long it had been here,” Sgt. Brian Daniels of the West Covina Police Department said.

It remains unclear how long the body had been inside the vehicle.

“They are thinking she might have been there a day or two because the smell was really bad already, so it’s just really sad. It’s really shocking,” said Celine Portillo, a shopper.

The body has since been removed from the scene by the coroner’s office.

Off-camera, Kim spoke with a man who says the woman is his aunt. He confirmed that the vehicle was in fact hers and that she had just become an Uber driver.

Police said they are looking through security footage from the shopping plaza for any clues.

http://goo.gl/ZIqnoY
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Rossendale Hackneys.

A Rossendale Hack had his photo taken by one of our top nightmen last night.

He took it because the plate number caught his eye, the number is 2805.

 Picking this up on twitter I quickly checked the Rossendale Vehicle register and discovered that up to 23 July this year (presumed last update of the said register) the highest vehicle number is 2123.

Now it would be normal to think perhaps Rossendale have issued a further 700 vehicles since that Register update. However that cannot be.This vehicles last test was allegedly Feb 15.

I may be missing something here. So if you see any Rossendale Hacks with a plate number higher than 2200 working Gtr MCR (or anywhere else for that matter) please take a photo and send it in.


If I am stupid and missed something please put me right.

In the mean time this Photo will go to the relevant Authorities.

 

TORONTO — A former UberX driver is suing the ride-sharing company, after a major car accident in June left him with chronic pain, without a vehicle, and in major debt.

“I believe thousands of people are driving Uber here and they don’t know — in case god forbid anything happens to them — how exposed they are to the vulnerability,” said Tawfiq Alam.

He was driving a passenger home along Queen Street East when a motorist ran a red light crashing into his Toyota Sienna. Both Alam and his passenger were rushed to hospital. When Alam called his insurance shortly after, his claim was denied because he had not disclosed that he would be using his vehicle for commercial purposes.

“It’s attractive for people to think they could make a buck off something,” said Steve Kee from the Insurance Board of Canada.

“But before you do that — your policies are set for certain limits so you should check with that insurance rep to find out what would happen if something horribly went wrong.”

And that’s exactly what happened to Tawfiq Alam. He admits he had not read the fine print and believed his basic auto insurance was sufficient.

Still, he was confident Uber could help with coverage, because he said he specifically asked the company when he signed up to become a driver about insurance protection.

“They said we are billion dollar company, we have $5 million dollars or so in insurance protection so you don’t have to worry about that, in case you get ticket or accident you just come to us and we take care of the issue,” he recalls.

Alam’s lawyer, Isaac Zisckind of Diamond & Diamond, said it is the first time he is dealing with an Uber claim, but suspects there are many drivers who are as unaware as his client of the limits of their basic auto coverage and whether or not Uber will step in to help.

“When you go to Uber they don’t mention that. You don’t sign anything,” says Zisckind.

We reached out to Uber for comment and spokesperson Susie Heath said: “While I can’t share specifics on a particular incident, I can tell you that all uberX rides are insured with liability coverage. Our insurer reviews these claims and we are committed to helping drivers understand the resolution process.”

Alam’s lawyer is now in the process of drafting a claim to sue Uber for at least $1 million in damages and lost income.

Alam wants other drivers to learn from his mistakes, which he said have cost him everything.

http://globalnews.ca/news/2172234/uberx-driver-says-he-will-take-legal-action-after-major-crash-in-toronto/

NORTHAMPTON

An unfortunate taxi driver came a cropper on a bus lane in Northampton after he managed to get caught in a 'car trap'.

The Hackney cab was stuck after straying onto the bus lane section of Hermitage Way, in Wootton, last Friday morning.

Passers-by had to do a double-take when they noticed the yellow vehicle sitting at a strange angle from a distance, only to realise it was 'well and truly' stuck when getting up close.

It is believed the driver had to call for a recovery truck to help tow the vehicle out of the trap, although it is not known how long he was there for.

This is not the first time an incident like this has happened in this particular 'car trap', as nearby residents have complained in the past about drivers trying to get around it.

The trap itself is made up of a deep pit in the middle of the road, with a number of metal 'teeth' protruding from it.

This is used to stop cars using it as a short cut to the A45, and forces them to take another route which means they have to use the busy Queen Eleanor roundabout.

There is also a road sign before the trap, which warns drivers that a trap is just ahead, and that only buses can pass through.

http://www.northampton-news-hp.co.uk/Taxi-driver-stuck-cab-gets-caught-bus-lane-car/story-27664085-detail/story.html
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NEWCASTLE

 A Premier League footballer feared he was being kidnapped after he got into the wrong taxi outside his hotel.

Newcastle United’s new £8.5m signing Chancel Mbemba, who does not speak English, was left panic-stricken by a bizarre series of events on the day of his debut.

The 21-year-old DR Congo international left the Hilton Hotel on Gateshead Quayside and climbed into a waiting cab thinking it was a club-hired vehicle to take him to St James’ Park.

The driver was in fact booked to go to a supermarket in Newcastle.

He tried to explain this to Mbemba but the star did not understand.

The driver set off for the store and when he went past the ground, Mbemba started to panic.

To add to the bizarre chain of events, the player was dressed in a £117 black Tuxedo suit, white shirt and dicky bow from Next - after being told to ‘look sharp’ for match days.

It is believed he tried to call club officials, but eventually ended up getting through to the translator hired to help him settle in England.

He assured him: 'Chancel, I think you have got in the wrong cab’.

The player, frustrated and worried at being late - which would have incurred a large club fine - was unable to explain this to the taxi driver.

Confusion continued as they reached their ‘destination’. Finally, the translator spoke to the taxi driver on the defender’s mobile phone to explain the situation - and the star got to the ground on time.

He was pictured striding past the dug out on the pitch before Newcastle’s 2-2 draw with Southampton on August 8 as he arrived, looking cool, calm and collected, with his toiletries bag in his hand, listening to music on his ear phones.

“It all turned out fine in the end as he had an outstanding game and was very pleased with his debut,” said a source. “But he really did think he was being abducted at one stage and the whole situation was difficult because of the language barrier.

“It was funny afterwards but hard for him at the time. The driver apparently thought he had the right fare.”

Mbemba is one of nine siblings, and his mother was a professional basketball player in their native Congo.

He has risen from humble beginnings in Kinshasa, and dedicated himself to his career, going out for extra sprint runs late at night while he playing for Anderlecht in Belgium.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/newcastle-new-boy-chancel-mbemba-6307448

House of Commons Briefing Note.

PDF ... https://goo.gl/uQYM5w

 LIVERPOOL

Noah Walker, from Bootle. His mum Claire Brown was angry with the way he was allegedly treated by a Delta taxi driver

Delta Taxis has apologised to the mum of a boy with Asperger’s syndrome for the way one of its drivers allegedly treated him.

Claire Brown, from Bootle, filed an official complaint with the Sefton-based cab firm after travelling in one of its vehicles last Friday.

The mum-of-four took a taxi home from Liverpool city centre with her sons, 10-year-old Noah, who has Asperger’s syndrome, and Seth, nine, after a shopping trip for school shoes.

She said they were near to the Birkenhead tunnel entrance when a girl with headphones on walked into the road in front of the taxi, causing the driver to slam on the breaks and sound the horn.

Claire said: “Anything that happens unexpectedly or involves loud noises, Noah doesn’t like.

“He screamed and grabbed hold of me, Noah was terrified. He was crying.”

Claire says the taxi driver yelled at Noah to “Stop it!”.

She explained about his condition, which is a form of autism, but says the driver replied: “My niece is like that and she can obey commands,” before shouting at her.

Claire told the ECHO: “If I didn’t think it would have upset Noah more I would have taken us out of the taxi there and then.”

Once she arrived home the angry mum phoned Delta Taxis to report the driver and was told to email her complaint.

On receiving no response by Monday she emailed again and was sent a reply on Tuesday which Claire said did not address her complaint fully.

A further email was sent by Delta to Claire yesterday which says the taxi firm will be “strongly suggesting” the driver concerned attends one of its optional Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults and Children courses, which includes a module titled Autism Awareness.

They have also promised Noah a Toys R Us voucher as a gesture of goodwill.

A spokeswoman for Delta Taxis told the ECHO: “The complaint has been addressed with the driver concerned. During the journey, a pedestrian stepped out in front of the driver and he had to brake hard to avoid an accident.

"Regarding his outburst and reaction following this, the driver acknowledged that he should have handled this a lot better and is willing to attend one of our courses which specialises in the safeguarding of vulnerable adults and children.

“I have spoken with the complainant and have discussed this with her today, describing the benefits of the course and have also offered a gift voucher for her son. I can confirm that the matter is now resolved.”

Claire also reported the incident to Sefton council, which says it is investigating the matter.

Delta Taxis took to Twitter this morning to address concerns from the public over the driver’s alleged behaviour.

The cab firm tweeted: “To date 727 Delta drivers have completed specialist training in safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.”

A Sydney taxi driver and part-time university lecturer charged over the hit-and-run death of a 94-year-old woman has been granted bail.

Mohammad Farhad, 51, allegedly drove into the woman as she tried to cross a road at Crows Nest, in Sydney's north, around 11am on Tuesday morning.

Police allege he didn't stop and the woman died at the scene, just metres away from North Sydney Girls High School. 

Court documents reportedly alleged Mr Farhad took two more fares on Tuesday afternoon before being called back to base. 

The Sydney Morning Herald reported Dr Farhad admitted being in the collision, according to court papers, but said he was 'confused and traumatised', handing himself to police after media appeals.
The victim was named in court documents as Suzzanne King.

Farhad, who lectures part-time at the University of Western Sydney, was arrested in Alexandria on Tuesday night.

He was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death, failing to stop and assist after a vehicle impact causing death, and negligent driving occasioning death. 

In applying for bail on Wednesday his lawyer Luke Brasch said he didn't try to avoid police, had strong community ties and needed to be out of custody to support his family.
Central Local Court heard there were concerns he would fail to appear and endanger the safety of the community if released from custody.

Magistrate Les Mabbutt, however, found that despite a strong prosecution case which includes CCTV footage, these concerns could be offset by the imposition of conditions.
These included reporting daily to police and not driving a taxi.

A $10,000 surety must also be posted, and Farhad must surrender his passport and stay away from airports.

His matter will next be mentioned at Downing Centre Local Court on October 13.  
Heartbreaking photographs emerged from the scene of a shopping pram, along with her walking stick and shoe scattered nearby the woman's body. 

http://goo.gl/A4hZYy
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EIRE

TAXI drivers across the country could do worse than follow the example of their Kilkenny colleagues in helping to combat the wave of suicide currently sweeping Ireland.

An inquest in Mallow into a shocking case of suicide heard yesterday how nine-year-old twins were stabbed over 40 times by their 21-year-old brother, who was suffering from a serious psychiatric illness, and then took his own life. His mother urged people with depression to seek help.

Aptly called ‘Taxi Watch’, the Kilkenny initiative keeps an alert eye on the city’s bridges and streets in the hope of spotting anyone thinking of taking their own lives and, talking them round with the aim of changing their mind.

Significantly, taxi drivers are trained by the HSE in recognising potential suicides and so far, 15 drivers trained in suicide alertness have helped 47 people since last November. For playing such a compassionate role within the community they depend on to make a living, the taxi drivers deserve to be applauded and their fundraising efforts to establish a dedicated drop-in centre ought to be generously supported.

http://goo.gl/uRC090
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 A Skelmersdale taxi driver stopped an elderly woman from handing over her life savings to cowboy builders.

Mike Heyes, 47, picked the pensioner up from Ormskirk station after she had been to the bank to collect more cash for the fake tradesman.

She appeared incredibly distressed and after talking to her the married father-of-one suspected she may be being scammed.

Mike said: “She was a lovely old woman and she seemed very flustered and panicked. She said she needed to get back to pay the builders who were doing some work on her roof.

“We started chatting about the work she was having done and she said that the builders had dropped her off at the bank for her to get more money, even though she had already given them a substantial amount.

“She said they had come round and told her she needed to have urgent work on her roof, even though she was unaware of any problems.

“Alarm bells started ringing in my head and I told her I thought she was being scammed.

“I told her to call the police, but she refused and said she didn’t want any fuss.

“She said she hadn’t told her children as she hadn’t wanted to bother them, but I just couldn’t leave her to lose her life savings.”

When they arrived at the house the bogus builders were nowhere to be seen, but not wanting to leave the woman on her own Mike phoned the police and used his car to block the entrance to the road to stop the conmen returning.

Mike said: “I eventually left, but the police were great and said I was right to ring.

“They called me back later in the day and said they had spoken to the woman and discovered she was being conned.

“I just did what 99% of the population would have done I’m no hero.

“I’m just glad she didn’t give them anymore cash. It’s awful to think there’s people out there that do this to the elderly, I just thought of my mum.”

Mike, who has just started his own taxi firm The Big Cab Company, was shocked to find he had become a viral sensation after Skelmersdale police posted details of his endeavour on their facebook page.

He said: “I couldn’t believe it when I saw it on Facebook and the story online. I just wanted to do what was right.”

A spokesperson said: “Police attended the ladies address before the bogus builders could collect the money from her.

“Crime prevention advice was given and the lady is now aware of such scams.

“Thank you that man! ‪#‎goodsamaritan‬.”

http://goo.gl/g4u86K

 NEW YORK

Taxi drivers aren’t happy with the effects that Uber and other ride-hailing services are having on their business.

Now New York cab drivers have the proof they need to plead their case to the city council, the same governing body that was a single vote away from drastically reducing the number of for-hire vehicles allowed on New York City streets.

Newly available data from the Taxi and Limousine Commission and analyzed by the New York Daily News, shows total trips in the first half of 2015 were down 10% compared to same period last year:

"Pickups for the iconic taxis that long ruled Manhattan streets plummeted 10% to 77 million in the first six months of 2015 — down from 85.5 million the year before, a Daily News analysis of trip data showed."
The data also shows declining revenues from yellow cab fares, according to the Daily News:
"The taxis collected $981 million through June of this year, a 7% drop compared with the $1.06 billion raked in over the same period last year.

"In real numbers, each cab brought in 9% less on average due to an increased number of taxi medallions and stiffer competition."

Last month, a bill that would cap the number of for-hire vehicles given permits was defeated after vocal protests by Uber drivers and supporters. Instead, the city announced a plan to study the effects of for-hire vehicles such as Uber on congestion in Manhattan.

Uber told Daily News reporters Nolan Hicks and Dan Rivoli that its fastest-growing areas are outside of Manhattan, areas underserved by yellow cabs.

The Taxi and Limousine Commission claims there are many more factors at play than just ride-hailing services, such as Citi Bike, the bike-share program that this summer expanded to more than double its footprint.

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/uber-making-york-city-cab-190942773.html

Comment; Why are they moaning ? 10% down, we should be so lucky ! ! !

 Manchester is down at least 30% this year. Reliable sources in London say they are down 40%. 

Gett Declares Taxi App War With New Anti-Uber Ad Campaign

Forget Uber vs. de Blasio. The company just found itself in a whole other war.

Gett launched its first ad campaign in New York City today, and the company is coming out swinging. Uber’s heavy surge fees, not Gett’s own quality of service, is the subject of many of the ad slogans.

“Uber is our biggest competition in NYC and their customers have a major point of frustration—surge! Our campaign highlights Gett’s surge-free guarantee,” Nathan Roth, Gett’s spokesperson, told the Observer when we asked why they targeted Uber.

The company is aware this might start a war, and they’re actually in favor of it. When we asked if Gett is looking to wage a taxi app war, Mr. Roth said, “We welcome any competition from Uber. New Yorkers deserve to choose whether or not to pay surge. Competition is long overdue and good for the city.”

It wouldn’t be the first either. Last summer, Lyft accused Uber employees of submitting over 5,000 fake ride requests to sabotage their business.

Gett has always touted the fact that they’re surge-free and offer $10 rides anywhere below110th street. Even while they’re attacking Uber, the company is sure to remind riders of these perks in their new ads.

Earlier this year, Gett introduced several new services to their app. With a push of a button, customers can now summon a pizza, masseuse, doctor or other health, beauty and food services with a tap of a finger. The company also upgraded their app to make it simple for blind passengers to use.

It looks like they don’t see that as a selling point, though.

http://observer.com/2015/08/gett-declares-taxi-app-war-with-new-anti-uber-ad-campaign/?

"Be a Disrupter"
 
‘I’ll get an Uber’ trips off the tongue as easily as ‘I’ll call a cab’, confirming how upstart operations are now disrupting traditional businesses.

From travel and holidays to property and finance these ‘disruptors’ threaten the stranglehold of incumbents by smart use of technology. Sally Hamiltonshows how the winners are consumers who enjoy convenience and more competitive prices.

The Uber minicab app has made hailing a taxi simple when there isn’t one in sight, as well as chopping cab bills for millions of travellers in cities such as London, Birmingham and Manchester.

Passengers who sign up on a smartphone are connected to background-checked, private drivers who pick them up where they want, on average within three and a half minutes of booking. Payment is taken automatically from a pre-registered credit or debit card – so there is no scrabbling around for cash at the destination.

Drawbacks include passengers not being able to book far ahead – for example, holidaymakers wanting a car to the airport tomorrow. And if you choose a busy time to hail an Uber on the app, ‘surge’ pricing may apply that can push up the cost of the fare.

As part of their licence all drivers are required to have insurance and Uber holds copies of all the driver's documents on file. But if it transpires they have none following an accident then Uber has back-up cover.

Uber and its ilk are part of a ‘people-powered’ revolution in transport that has spread to car sharing, lift sharing and even parking.

Digital marketing executive Debbie Cass is a big fan of Uber and uses it regularly for both work and play.

But she likes another disruptor of the transport business even better – car sharing business BlaBlaCar.

The 27-year-old from New Cross Gate, South-East London, uses the service to take her to Truro in Cornwall, where her partner Liam works as a hospital doctor.

She says: ‘Relocating to Cornwall is not feasible for me so we visit each other as much as possible at weekends.’

But the sky-high cost of rail or air travel was a serious hurdle so they hunted round for other options. Debbie says: ‘Liam tried BlaBlaCar first as I was a bit nervous. But he had no problems so I felt comfortable having a go.’

Debbie searched its website, which presented drivers planning to make the journey she wanted and included names and profiles and even how chatty they were. Debbie booked and paid £20 in advance (£2 of which went to BlaBlaCar) to travel the 300 mile, five and a half hour journey from Truro to London with a woman called Helen, who lives in Cornwall at weekends but commutes weekly to the capital by car.

Debbie says: ‘The train can cost more than £100 return. But with car sharing you save a fortune and have company all the way.’

Debbie sometimes drives her own car, often taking three customers with her. ‘That covers all my fuel costs and then I have a car down there. They have always been friendly people.’ She also likes the fact she can choose to share only with other women if she wants.

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-3199262/Be-Disruptor-save-cash-high-tech-upstart-brands-cut-bills-hailing-taxi-selling-home.html?
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PLANS to ban petrol and diesel vehicles from Oxford city centre by 2020 could lead to “chaos” and rising transport costs.

Oxford City Council environment boss John Tanner said the move to create a “zero emission zone” within five years could lead to bus fares rising and would force people to buy expensive electric cars.

And the plans have been strongly criticised by 001 Taxis managing director Mark Green, who warned prices could triple.

Oxfordshire County Council will vote on Local Transport Plan Four, which contains the proposals, at a meeting on September 8.



 

MANCHESTER / BURY

POLICE are still hunting a rogue taxi driver who sexually assaulted women in Prestwich and Whitefield.

The first incident took place at 3am on July 18 when an 18-year-old got into the taxi near 42nd Street nightclub in Bootle Street, Manchester. She was driven to the Prestwich area where she was sexually assaulted.

Then, at 2.45am on July 19, a 23-year-old woman got into the car in Peter Street, Manchester. The car was driven towards Whitefield but it stopped in Philips Park Road West and the man sexually assaulted her.

He is described as Asian, in his 30s, possibly wearing glasses and with short, dark hair.

DS Mark Astbury said: “I ask anyone who may have been approached or been a victim to call us as soon as possible.”

And he urged revellers: "Ensure you use licensed taxi companies by either pre-booking or going to a designated taxi rank."

http://www.burytimes.co.uk/news/13595548.Appeal_over_sex_attack_taxi_driver/?ref=rss
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EIRE

A 62-year-old man has been remanded in custody with consent to bail after he was charged with a knife attack on his partner which left her in a serious condition in hospital with 14 separate stab wounds.

Patrick O’Rourke was brought before a special sitting of Clonakilty District Court where he was charged in relation to the attack on Donna Foster at their house in Cobh on Tuesday.

The state alleges Mr O’Rourke assaulted Ms Foster causing her harm at Cooline Drive, Ballyvaloon, Cobh on August 11th contrary to Section 3 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

Det Garda Bill Dillane gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution and told the court that Mr O’Rourke, a taxi driver, made no reply when the charge was put him following caution.

Insp Gerry Lacey said that gardaí were objecting to bail for Mr O’Rourke but defence solicitor, Ray Hennessy said that Mr O’Rourke was anxious to be released and was applying for bail.

Det Garda Dillane said that first ground for the garda objection to bail was the seriousness of the charge and the garda belief that the DPP may direct more serious charges against Mr O’Rourke.

The State would allege Ms Foster suffered serious injuries including 14 separate stab wounds as a result of the alleged assault by Mr O’Rourke and she required emergency surgery at hospital.

Det Garda Dillane said that Ms Foster was not in a serious but stable condition at Cork University Hospital but that she may require further major surgery.

The State was also objecting to bail on the grounds that Mr O’Rourke might interfere with witnesses including the injured party and others who were in the house, he said.

Det Garda Dillane said the State accepted Mr O’Rourke was not intent on threatening anyone in the case but rather to express remorse but any contact might be interpreted by the as intimidatory.

Mr Hennessy asked Mr O’Rourke if he would give an undertaking to the court not to make any contact with the injured party or anyone else linked to the case and he agreed not to do so.

Judge Tim Lucey said that he was inclined to grant bail to Mr O’Rourke whom gardaí had acknowledged had no previous convictions.

Insp Lacey sought that Mr O’Rourke would also stay an alternative address which he would furnish t o gardai and that he would sign on three times a week at Cobh Garda Station.

Insp Lacey also sought that Mr O’Rourke would given an undertaking to make contact by any means, directly or indirectly with Ms Foster and anyone else resident in the house.

He also asked that Mr O’Rourke not work as a taxi driver given he was operating a public service vehicle for which he required a PSV licence and he had just been charged with a serious assault.

Mr Hennessy strongly objected, saying the alleged assault was of a domestic nature and occurred in his house whereas his work as a taxi driver meant he was in contact with the public at large.

He said he could understand such a condition being sought if he had assaulted a passenger or someone in the course of his work as a taxi driver but that was not the case at all.

In the circumstances requiring him to give up working as taxi driver pending his case was excessively harsh and would deprive him of making a living to pay for any alternative accommodation, he said.

Judge Lucey said he was granting bail on these conditions including requiring him not to work as a taxi driver and if Mr O’Rourke was unhappy with that he could appeal his order to the High Court.

However when Mr O’Rourke could not provide him with an address for bail, he remanded him custody with consent to bail to appear again at Clonakilty District Court on August 20th.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/man-charged-with-knife-attack-on-partner-1.2315713
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NEW YORK (AP) -- The Uber ride-hailing service says yellow-taxi medallion owners who've been complaining in New York City will "do and say anything" to stop drivers from abandoning them.

Angry taxi medallion owners rallied outside City Hall on Wednesday and complained about city Taxi & Limousine Commission regulations. They say their medallions aren't worth as much as they used to be.

Their lawyer takes issue with Uber's ability to charge more for rides if demand outpaces supply, known as surge pricing. He says they want a level playing field.

Uber says "taxi medallion millionaires" for years have faced no competition and have exploited drivers. It says each Uber ride contributes four times as much tax as a taxi ride. It also says Uber drivers earn more while being their own bosses.

The Taxi & Limousine Commission says it hopes to meet with medallion owners to discuss their concerns.

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Police raided the Hong Kong offices of taxi-hailing service Uber Inc on Tuesday and arrested five drivers for the "illegal use of vehicles for hire", police said.

A Hong Kong police senior inspector, Bruce Hung, said undercover police officers had used a mobile phone app to hail five cars and arrested the drivers after being driven to their destinations.

He said the drivers lacked the required hire car permits or third party insurance.

The police officers' fares had been settled using a credit card, Hung said.

Harold Li, Uber spokesman for North Asia, said Uber stood by its "driver-partners 100 percent" and welcomed the chance to work with authorities "towards updated regulations that put the safety and interests of riders and drivers first".

"Uber ensures that all rides are covered by insurance, and all drivers on the platform undergo an extensive background check," Li said in an email on Wednesday.

Police also searched two offices in Hong Kong on Tuesday, including at least one belonging to Uber, a police spokeswoman said. Police were shown on Hong Kong television taking away documents, computers and iPads.

At least three Uber staff were taken away by police, according to Hong Kong's Cable Television.

The move by police against Uber in the China-ruled former British colony comes after taxi drivers mounted protests against the online service for hurting their livelihoods. Uber has faced similar protests across the world, including in China where the U.S.-headquartered firm is expanding rapidly.

"Hongkongers have made it clear that they want more, better transportation options in our city, and Uber is deeply committed to making sure they have unrestricted access to safe, reliable, quality options," Li said.

In May, mainland Chinese authorities raided the offices of Uber on suspicion of an "unlicensed operation".

Uber, which has been valued at more than $51 billion, is a comparative latecomer in China, where the number of mobile taxi-hailing app users is forecast to triple to 45 million by 2015 from 2013, according to Chinese research firm iResearch.

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/police-search-uber-offices-hong-kong-arrest-five-001638850--finance.html
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 NEW YORK (AP) -- Authorities say eight taxi dispatchers at LaGuardia Airport have been arrested after an undercover bribery sting.
Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown says the scheme allowed drivers who paid cash to cut the line in the airport holding area as other drivers waited their turn.
Brown says the bribes were only $5 or $10 each — but it could add up to hundreds of dollars a day.
The defendants were working for an airport contractor.
Seven of them were arrested Wednesday morning when they showed up for what they believed was a training session.

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/8-laguardia-airport-taxi-dispatchers-154733690.html
 

Nottingham City Council has prosecuted 14 rogue taxi drivers in the past six months for illegally picking up passengers in town.

Only the dark green Nottingham City Hackney cabs are allowed to be hailed, whereas minicabs must be pre-booked.

But these licensed drivers had been ignoring the rules and have now racked up nearly £8,000 in fines and 87 points on their licenses between them.

Nicola Heaton, portfolio holder for Community Services said: "It is imperative that we catch these people and bring them to justice. This is a strong message to others out there who think they can get away with illegally plying for hire in our city."

http://www.nottinghampost.com/Rogue-taxi-drivers-fined-nearly-8-000-illegally/story-27541970-detail/story.html#ixzz3hrgbO1Zb
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 ROSSENDALE

 Driver made false insurance claim after crashing into taxi and Italian restaurant
Jon Macpherson

A driver who crashed into a taxi and an Italian restaurant and then made false claims to his insurers that the car had been stolen has avoided jail.

Dominic Hall was speeding at 60mph along Blackburn Road in Haslingden and ‘seemingly out of control’ when he collided with a taxi.

Burnley Crown Court heard that he then ‘completely demolished’ a set of traffic lights before ploughing into the front door of the La Veranda restaurant.

Hall, 24, fled and slept over at a friend’s house in Haslingden before falsely claiming to insurers that the car had been stolen before the crash.

Hall pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice, fraud, failing to stop after an accident and failing to report an accident. He also admitted a separate offence of possessing an offensive weapon.

He was given a seven-month jail sentence, suspended for two years with 200 hours’ unpaid work, five points on his driving licence, and ordered to pay £200 costs.

Louise Santamera, prosecuting, said the crash happened at around 10.30pm on October 5 last year just after four witnesses had got into the VW Passat taxi oustide the Italian restaurant.

She told the court that one of the witnesses, Joseph Spiteri-Braysford, said that Hall’s Vauxhall Astra was driving at them ‘seemingly out of control’.

He said that all the passengers in the taxi had ‘braced themselves anticipating a crash’ and that the taxi driver tried to take ‘evasive action’ but was unsuccessful.

Miss Santamera told the court that Hall’s car ‘collided with the rear offside wheel arch before completely demolishing a set of traffic lights and eventually the front door of the restaurant.’

She told the court that Mr Spiteri-Braysford started to run after Hall but soon went back to his wife and the taxi driver who were both shaken up. The crash caused £2,500 damage to the taxi and £1,000 damage to the restaurant.

The court heard that the next day Hall, of Otterburn Grove, Burnley, called Aviva claiming the car had been stolen and then made a full detailed statement to back it up.

Hall claimed he had been out at a party in Haslingden the night before and got ‘drunk’ and when he woke up at 5.30pm the next day realised his car keys were missing.

But he was later identified in a police video identification parade.

http://www.rossendalefreepress.co.uk/news/local-news/driver-made-false-insurance-claim-9790204
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LONDON. Nottinghill Bogus Minicab Rape
 

 
 http://www.standard.co.uk/news/city-worker-raped-after-getting-into-minicab-after-night-out-10436968.html

 LONDON

As the war between Black Cabbies and taxi apps rages on, it seems the battle for Londoners' hearts has been won, after a new survey showed 55 per cent of those living in the capital are in favour of Uber and its ilk.

The study, by YouGov and communications firm PLMR, found 55 per cent of Londoners are in favour of the apps, which also include the likes of Gett and Hailo, while 16 per cent think they're "bad for the city".

The good news for embattled Black Cab drivers, though, is that most people reckon Hackney Carriages will survive the onslaught, with 45 per cent suggesting they're still be around in 20 years (although 30 per cent said they won't be).

Although they did also say that the difficulty of paying for Black Cabs is one of the most offputting factors: 75 per cent said black taxis should accept contactless payments.

"The message is clear," said PLMR deputy managing director Elin de Zoete. "They need to adapt, and soon, if they are going to survive.

"The next generation in particular are embracing change, and black cabs don't want to be left behind."

http://www.cityam.com/221519/most-londoners-love-taxi-apps-uber-and-hailo-think-black-cabs-will-still-be-around-20-years
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LIVERPOOL

 A Toxteth cabbie appeared in court accused of deliberately driving his taxi at a couple and a five-year-old girl.

Peter Rogers, 30, previously pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving and making threats to kill at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court.

Rogers, of Trefoil Close, is alleged to have committed the offences while driving his Ford Mondeo taxi in Lodge Lane, Granby, on June 3 this year.

The alleged victims, an adult man, his partner and the child, were not injured during the incident.

Rogers appeared at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday for a preliminary hearing.

A plea and case management hearing was set for September 29.

Judge Clement Goldstone, QC, said a trial would take place on October 5.

The Recorder of Liverpool said it would be estimated to last two days.

The judge remanded Rogers in custody.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/toxteth-cabbie-accused-deliberately-driving-9784283
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UBER.

This one a bit Childish, but worth a Laugh 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=O_hzZvpMrS8&app=desktop