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Subject: CABBIE SAYS ' SURELY THE FINE DOESN'T THE FIT CRIME'
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TonyUser is Offline
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06 Dec 2007 9:56 AM Alert 
CABBIE SAYS ' SURELY THE FINE DOESN'T THE FIT CRIME'
 
A cabbie has been fined £150 for not having a three-inch no-smoking sticker on display in his taxi.

Andrew Bates, 40, who works for Southway's Star Cars, said the "fine doesn't fit the crime" after he admitted he does not smoke - and never lets anyone else do it in his cab.

 

He has paid his fine, imposed by Plymouth City Council, but said he wants people to know just how harsh the penalties are.
 
Mr Bates, who lives in Honicknowle, was taking a customer to PlymptonHospital when he said he glanced in his rear view mirror and saw a 4x4 vehicle with men in yellow jackets inside.


He said: "They turned out to be city council personnel. They stopped me and checked my cab.


"They searched the whole taxi and found that I didn't have a three-inch no-smoking sticker.

"I'm 40 and I haven't smoked in my entire life. I also strictly don't let anyone else smoke in my taxi.


"But I got a huge fine for not having a little sticker. I may have fallen foul of the law - but £150? Surely the fine doesn't fit the crime."
 
Mr Bates said he would have been fined £200 if he didn't pay within 15 days.

He said: "My company told me about the new no-smoking legislation when it came in on July 1. But I enforce the non-smoking policy very effectively.


"I have now bought a sticker and paid the fine, but I just wanted to highlight how unfair these fines really are.


"There doesn't seem to be a softly, softly approach, because the council seems to be doing everything it can to catch taxi drivers out.


"The majority of the public know they can't smoke in a taxi already - these fines are just taking it too far."


A Plymouth City Council spokesman said: "The council has made strenuous efforts to inform private hire drivers and other city businesses about their legal obligations under the Government's new smoke free legislation.


"We started this process before the legislation was introduced on July 1 this year. For months afterwards we deliberately took a softly, softly approach to the implementation of the new regulations, preferring to use education rather than coercion wherever possible to get local businesses to comply."

The spokesman said that the council has used a wide range of measures - including extensive media coverage, drop-in events, letters to businesses and a wealth of guidance on its website - to make sure that everyone was aware of their responsibilities under the new law.


The spokesman said: "All private hire operators were sent detailed guidance, which they were asked to disseminate to their drivers.


"Free smoke free stickers were made available at the front desk of the Civic Centre, and our website pointed people to the
www.smokefreeengland.co.uk Government site, where free no smoking signs are available for download.


"Having done all in our power to educate and inform private hire drivers, other businesses and the general public about the new law, we are now taking a tougher stance in cases where we find it is not being complied with.


"It is important to remember that this is national legislation which local authorities are obliged to enforce.


"All of our efforts have been in the wider context of a massive Government publicity campaign about the new smoke free rules."

 


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TonyUser is Offline
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06 Dec 2007 10:10 AM Alert 

peoples comments

full original story click here  

 

Is it down in black and white that it is a statuatory £150 fine for not having a sticker.The lad was wrong but it is obviously in the stupid council bye laws that this fine fits that crime.The lad should appeal in fact he should not have paid it in the first place the public would not beleive the rules made up over the years by these jobsworths.
j, plymouth

 


Bengie, its very easy to make snide remarks about PCC from the safety of you computer, i assume you have never actually made the effort to stand for council membership, and try to put your views forward in a rational way? its very easy to snipe from the sidelines but much harder to put yourself out and try and make a difference by serving your community as a council member. we vote them in, so you usually end up with what you deserve. next time the elections come round, get up off your backside and vote. 
patrick, west park

 


well mark,what an angel your are for having a sticker,because he didnt have a sticker that means he must use his mobile phone while driving,and not maintain his car,i am sorry but i use star cars all the time,and i have never seen one driver on a mobile phone,and the cars always look clean and well looked after,so dont presume anything until you know the facts........... 
paul, southway

 


£150 fine, sounds harsh, and it probably would be, but hang on a minute the bloke admitted that his company told him all about it on July 1st!!! Why then, didn't he get the sign he needed and put it in his car? Sounds like he has been lucky to get away with it for so long! He can hardly plead ignorance, it seems like he chose to ignore the law and has got caught out. But it seems that taxi drivers always moan when they get caught breaking the law, they seem to feel that they have a right to speed, use mobile phones, smoke in their cars, drive like they own the road, wait where they want and generally be a law unto themselves, i just wish some of these issues were dealt with by the police and council.
adam, Stoke

 


In reply to mark the moron, it's a big step to presume Andrew uses his mobile whilst driving or neglects his vehicle, just because he, like the rest of us who manage to possess the common sense part of our brain, use it rather than take direction from the so called EDUCATED NUMB NUTS. The said(NN), whom i don't doubt, talk about work when they return home to Mrs Sad T**t.Or Mr. Obviously.
oxo, plympton

 


Would someone kindly check something for Me that side of the Atlantic.....I was under the impression that only the emergency services and traffic wardens had the right to stop vehicles......since wehn has PCC had it's own private police force, with powers to stop and search vehicles? Big Brother is obviously more real than ever.
Gordon, Florida, ex Plymouth

 


Well well once again what is this country coming to 
J, Plymouth

 


A 4x4 vehicle? When I was stopped they were driving a tatty old Mini. These are more likely to be the inspector's own cars but if that is so, do they have the correct insurance I wonder? Normally your insurance only covers you to drive to and from your normal place of work. An additional premium is required to use your car carrying out you work. If PCC want to waste money, why not employ more inspectors with the task of monitoring the inspectors we already have.!
Paul, Plymouth

 


Well what an absolute waste of time and money! All they care about is when they go home at the end of the day, they've well and truely annoyed yet another fellow citizen. P.C.C need to get a hold of them selves and stop talking down thier noses to the people who actually pay thier wages. Do the people of Plymouth understand that P.C.C are never going to make our lives easy! We can keep complaining but it'll never work!!
lauryn, plymouth

 


To law abiding Mark, Plymouth You work for PCC I take it!
AD, Milehouse

 


How wonderful to know that the Smoke Gestapo are driving around in gas-guzzling 4x4's. 
BD, Plymouth

 


I have to put a sticker in my car aswell its the law!! This is the sort of driver who may well drive around talking on his mobile phone or not maitianing the cab you are in if he cannot be bothered to put the sticker in the window. 
Mark, Plymouth

 


these councilworkers had to show they had been doing something that day-some real hard grafting for their easy come (counciltax funded)wages and secured pensionfunds.
jh, plymouth

 


Well the law is the law but a very harsh penalty if you ask me, its a pity the council employees who pulled this driver over were not going down Outland Road last evening at 6.20 as i was following a red London cab with the telephone number 606060 on the side of the cab, this 'driver' was on his mobile phone from when i got behind him at the Morrison's supermarket until he turned off towards the city centre at the Milehouse junction. As we pulled away from each set of traffic lights i could see he was holding the phone in his left hand and letting go of the steering wheel to change gear at the same time with same hand and did not let go of the mobile phone once. 
Les, Plymouth

 


I have to take you to task Ned: Quote - Who are these idiots in PCC who set these policies.- Unquote. That suggests there are some who are not idiots, I don't think so. Quote - Proactive on the simple stuff but try and get them to sort out something really difficult - Unquote. What you mean things like street cleaning, yes that is really difficult. Quote - what about all these wasters - Unquote. Ah now your have it, that is exactly what the council are.
Bengie, St Budeaux

 


I think he got off lightly! He should have got 6 months in prison as well as a fine. Think about it, because he did not display a no smoking sticker then anyone using his cab could of lit up a cancer stick and polluted the air and risked the lives of innocent people who may have used the cab afterwards. I am so glad we have clever, efficient council people who can drive around the city in a 4x4, wearing glowing jackets and are able to spot these culprits who do not display these stickers. They are a credit to our country and we are lucky to have these people working in our city. I hope they get more money then the minimum wage and that their bosses appreciate their efforts in helping to prevent smoking related disease. Well done PCC! I am choked up just writing this. 
Proud to be living in Plymouth, Plymouth

 


watch out,watch out theres tory jobsworth s about
billy boy, plymouth

 


Who are these silly people working for PCC?, I just hope whoever they are manages to have a joyful and peaceful Christmas this year after fining this HARD working NON SMOKING man £150 over a stupid sticker! A warning would have been more appropriate but no you had to make £150 out of somebody who perhaps was working too hard to take note of silly little new laws and regulations coming in. I just hope it was well worth the pat on the back from your chiefs and that you sleep well at night! 
Alison, Plymouth

 


this country is truly f****d!!!!! it is about time this government involved the people when creating these ridiculous politically correct ideas! we don't want & don't need petty laws! we need tougher action on crime, immigration, etc, etc, etc!!! we don't need a government that meddles with every1's lifes! smoking, drinking, speed cameras, food,global warming etc etc- all to put money into the fat cats pockets!!!!
james, plymouth

 


Who are these idiots in PCC who set these policies. Wasting taxpayer?s money on trivia. However it?s nothing more than we come to expect from local government. Proactive on the simple stuff but try and get them to sort out something really difficult and unjust, well then its just too much trouble. Never mind a 3-inch no smoking sign, what about all these wasters who are driving around without a 3-inch tax disc and no insurance to boot. These are the real criminals that need to be caught. 
Ned , Belliver

 


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www.taxiinsurancetrader.com

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allo alloUser is Offline

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06 Dec 2007 11:43 AM Alert 
This yet again raises the question....exactly who can stop a moving vehicle???

Also what powers do council officers have to "search" a vehicle???



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