Taxis
"The Independent Taxi Driver"
TF MVP
Posts:339
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| 13/09/2007 10:43 PM |
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Hi,
Whats your view on drivers been able to carry something to defend thereself ( Legally ).
We all know that there is a increasing trend on idiot passengers attacking taxi drivers but the law states we can not carry anything to defend ourselves.
Please do not think I am trying to carry a weapon to harm someone with just to avoid an argument but in the event we get a passenger onboard that fancys stabbing us rather than paying us or the clown that wants to try his / her new knife out on a taxi driver......Well we are knackered , arnt we ?
So I think this, we are responsible people who are vetted and licenced to carry out a job
that is quite "high risk" so should we not be responsible enough to know when our life is at risk and maybe in extreme circumstances use a method of defence that will deter an attacker or save our life.
I mean the police are there to uphold law and order and are equiped with various items that can assist them if they are under attack so what makes us so different ?
You might say we are not upholding the law ! and no we are not BUT we are in a more dangerous position. As a taxi driver you are clearing the streets of all the scum the police would have to deal with in the event we were not there, we have passengers that have fell out with wives / girlfriends, just lost a fight, or just to drunk but needs to be a hero and make a name for themself so they need to seriously hurt someone.
It could be us as we are the next person in line after there bad night out.
So whay not let us protect ourself and carry something that will give us the chance to get out our confined space and live ?
Not saying we would use it at any available chance, only in life threatening situations which as experienced drivers we know when these times are. Don't we ?
Some carry items of defence and run the risk of been prosecuted for doing so, some are more clever and carry a item that can have a reasonable explanation for been there like the baseball bat and the ball in the glove box " well I play ball sometines ". The wheelbrace ! " I tightened my wheelnuts earlier and left it there".
Some might say " If you have an item for defence and a violent person takes it off you the worst will happen". Well maybe !
So what do you think about this issue ?
Steve |
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Baron Silas Greenback
TF Member
Posts:217
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| 14/09/2007 10:16 AM |
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i carry a large mag lite torch which i have by my seat, i have a legitimate reason to carry it as i need it to find house numbers at night.
chances are steve if someones going to mug you etc then the chances are in most cases they will do what ever neccessary to get what they want, so i personally would run the risk of either them or me.
i know its said just stay in your vehicle and drive off, but its easy to say it how would most people know how they'd react till it happens to you ? |
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GMB BRANCH SEC LONDON
TF MVP
Posts:1198
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| 16/09/2007 08:29 PM |
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This is dangerous territory, last week one of my members was attacked by 3 louts who were tooled up with knives, he defended himself using the training he had received in a special unit of the army, subsequently the 3 louts were hospitalized! hes now on bail charged with 3 counts of GBH. If he is convicted he is then out of work, carrying a big torch seems unwise to me, but im no lawyer.Naturally the GMB will provide the legal representation, however I fear the worst! Perhaps driver shields and CCTV would be more effective????????????????????
PROTECTION IS PROVIDED TO ALL MEMBERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Baron Silas Greenback
TF Member
Posts:217
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| 17/09/2007 10:12 AM |
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im a catholic and so im not allowed to use protection under any guise........ have to rely on withdrawal or retreat methods. |
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hopper
TF MVP
Posts:1206
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| 17/09/2007 11:42 AM |
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Posted By Baron Silas Greenback on 17 Sep 2007 10:12 AM
im a catholic and so im not allowed to use protection under any guise........ have to rely on withdrawal or retreat methods.
LOL
7 cell maglite for me the one that takes C cells, not as thick as a 6 cell D type but longer.
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hopper
TF MVP
Posts:1206
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| 17/09/2007 12:28 PM |
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Bogger & fook, got my BB Code in the wrong place again..........wish we could edit our own posts when we make a cook up  |
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Baron Silas Greenback
TF Member
Posts:217
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| 18/09/2007 02:54 PM |
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7 cell maglite for me the one that takes C cells, not as thick as a 6 cell D type but longer. i bet your missus loves you ....lol cant see how you can get done for carrying a torch in your car in this job, and if it can be used to defend ones self then all the better |
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hopper
TF MVP
Posts:1206
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| 18/09/2007 03:42 PM |
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i bet your missus loves you ....lol
I was involved in an R.T.A. one night awhile back and the police were in attendance.
I took my 7 cell Maglight from the car to inspect the damage under the bonnet.
I heard one of the policemen say to his colleague “look at the size of that torch” but there was no mention of offensive weapons 
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steptoe
Posts:49
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| 18/09/2007 09:36 PM |
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maybe jealous that yours was bigger than theres.....????? truncheon !! |
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allo-allo
TF Student
Posts:57
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| 19/09/2007 01:09 AM |
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A torch is a torch and more cells mean it wont keep running out!
Dont leave your cab without it! |
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Baron Silas Greenback
TF Member
Posts:217
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| 19/09/2007 11:18 AM |
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Posted By allo-allo on 19 Sep 2007 1:09 AM
A torch is a torch and more cells mean it wont keep running out!
Dont leave your cab without it!
are you saying allo allo that you agree with defending yourself and that a torch is perhaps something that if to hand could be used ?
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allo-allo
TF Student
Posts:57
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| 21/09/2007 12:58 AM |
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You might say so but I couldn't possibly comment, with apols to the late Ian Richardson. |
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urban driver
TF Regular
Posts:102
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| 21/09/2007 08:00 AM |
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Posted By allo-allo on 21 Sep 2007 12:58 AM
You might say so but I couldn't possibly comment, with apols to the late Ian Richardson.
what happened to the above named, were they a driver ? |
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hopper
TF MVP
Posts:1206
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| 21/09/2007 11:46 AM |
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Posted By urban driver on 21 Sep 2007 8:00 AM
Posted By allo-allo on 21 Sep 2007 12:58 AM
You might say so but I couldn't possibly comment, with apols to the late Ian Richardson.
what happened to the above named, were they a driver ?
See here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6346301.stm
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hopper
TF MVP
Posts:1206
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| 21/09/2007 11:52 AM |
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BB Code in the wrong place yet again 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6346301.stm |
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hopper
TF MVP
Posts:1206
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hopper
TF MVP
Posts:1206
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| 22/09/2007 05:06 PM |
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If anyone was wondering what a 7C cell mag-light looked like (they are fairly rare) this is mine 
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Taxis
"The Independent Taxi Driver"
TF MVP
Posts:339
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| 22/09/2007 10:57 PM |
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So , do you think we should be able to defend ourselves with something described as a "weapon of defence" if we are in a situation
where talking and diplomacy is not quite enough ?
We are spposed to be rational and responsible people but in a "all to common" situation do we just take our unnecessary beating
and run / back off or should we ( Like I said in the opening post ) be able to defend ourself like a police officer can ONLY when all other
methods have been tried and have failed.
I was hoping to aquire a yes I agree or no I disagree type of answer and your reasons why you think why you do.
If I could have opened a poll on this forum it would of been better but for now your views would be appreciated.
Steve |
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hopper
TF MVP
Posts:1206
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| 23/09/2007 12:12 PM |
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Steve,
I should be fairly obvious what me feelings are on this matter, I don’t carry a torch like that just for finding house numbers.
I now live and work in rural Norfolk mainly doing days so I don’t feel the need to go out tooled-up, but I did 20 odd years in Colchester Essex doing the pubs and clubs into the early hours.
Me like most of the other drivers would not have gone out to work without having something in the cab, I like to pride myself on my ability to talk myself out of a situation but on occasions that just doesn’t work and if it means the difference between me getting a kicking or defending myself then I defend myself by any means necessary.
I have carried many things in the cab over the years, an 18in Dunlop tyre lever, a Japanese automatic telescopic truncheon and a miniature washing up bottle filled with ammonia.
The best thing though is probably a good torch, you have a legitimate reason to be carrying it and it has a practical use i.e. finding house numbers.
I lived on a fairly rough ex council estate in Colchester and my lock-up garage was about a quarter of a mile away from my house. Walking home with my takings at night I felt sooo much safer with that torch in my hand. |
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bully beef
TF Student
Posts:75
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| 23/09/2007 01:21 PM |
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my answer taxis is that i would defend myself whenever neccessary and i think we should be allowed too, i think theres too much political correctness these days and too much care goes into how deprived and a bad up bringing is used to defend the idiots of this world, what about my rights to look after myself by any means possible, providing i use reasonable force to do so.
but there again we could start another topic on whats reasonable force ?
my opinion is probably different to a judge and jury's, but they have the beauty of hindsight and not the rush of adrenalin as them involved at the time being faced with what could be a do or die situation.
its easy looking back and saying why didnt you do this or walk away etc....!! thats easy to say but in the heat of the moment when you dont know what their carrying or what their full intentions are its easy to say you should of drove off or drove onto a ploice station.
so i'll reiterate it for you.
I WOULD MOSTLY DEFINITELY FIGHT BACK AND DEFEND MYSELF ETC WITH WHAT EVER I HAD TO HAND AT THE TIME.
now TAXIS i think you've brought up this topic for a particular reason after asking your questioncould you tell us why you brought up this subject as its very topical at the moment with the amount of muggings, beatings and murders our trade is putting up with at the moment. look how many news storys there is on this forum in the read all about it section on here. |
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