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Lottery offers free taxi rides on South Bank and Bankside
2007-06-09 11:01:00
Five cabbies will be offering free rides from locations including the Globe and the Royal Festival Hall as part of a drive to raise awareness of National Lottery Good Causes. Over the weekend of 9 and 10 June they'll be offering free taxi rides between Lottery-funded locations. Free cab rides will be available between 10am and 5pm at the following Lottery-funded locations: • Shakespeare's Globe • Royal Festival Hall • London Zoo • The Natural History Museum • The National Portrait Gallery At each of the venues a Love UK representative will guide passengers to one of the free cabs which will whisk them off to any one of the other four venues. The refurbishment of the Royal Festival Hall, which reopens this weekend with a free festival called The Overture, received £15 million from the National Lottery. At the Globe on Saturday it's Sam's Day with a host of free events to celebrate Sam Wanamaker's birthday. £3 bil...
More About: News , Offers , South

Taxi health warning
2007-06-09 10:55:00
THE HEALTH meter could be ticking for taxi drivers. Male cabbies have been identified as a high risk group in terms of Coronary Heart Disease and Diabetes. Craig Walker, owner of J&P Taxi s in Redcar, east Cleveland, is not surprised. advertisementHe said: "A lot of my male taxi drivers have been with the company over five years. They drive unsociable hours, eat the wrong types of food, usually fast food. "After five years this work-style must start taking its toll.'' Taxi drivers are being invited to have free health 'MoTs' because their unsocial hours and shifts spent sitting behind the wheel of a car are putting them at risk of chronic illness. The health checks are being offered to coincide with Men's Heal th Week and National Diabetes Awareness Week which starts on Monday. (JUNE 11) The unfit cabbies will be offered tests for blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and body fat. They will be asked about stress, advised on stopping s...
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No public consultation over scrapping Blackwall Tunnel tidal flow, Transpor
2007-06-09 10:47:00
Michael Parker TRANSPORT bosses grilled at the London Assembly admitted there was no public consultation before they scrapped the Blackwall Tunnel rush-hour 'tidal' flow. Senior transport officials apologized publicly to the assembly for its failure to consult the public during a transport committee session at City Hall on Thursday, July 7. They admitted the decision to end the contraflow, where the southbound tunnel is switched to two-way traffic to ease morning commuting journeys, had not been properly discussed with the local authorities either side of the Thames that were affected. Bexley Council was furious and only found out "by accident" the tidal flow had been withdrawn, despite the massive impact from greater levels of traffic. Greenwich Council said the decision was never fully discussed with them. Transport for London admitted there had only been time for "a few phone calls" before the rush-hour tidal flow was cancelled. The plan...
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Taxi leaders welcome England smoking ban
2007-06-09 10:40:00
Leaders of England ’s taxi drivers are welcoming the complete ban on smoking in taxis and private hire vehicles which comes into effect at the end of this month. “For some years we have promoted the right of drivers to ban smoking in their taxis, and the new law will end any confusion on the issue,” said taxi driver Jim Kelly, who chairs the Cab Trade Committee of the T&G Section of Unite – the union. “For us, this is primarily a workplace health issue. Like other workers, taxi drivers are entitled to do their job without being at risk of cancer and other deadly diseases from cigarette smoke. “No-one would expect to be able to blow smoke over a factory or office worker while they are at their posts. Now taxi drivers, together with bar staff and others still at risk from cigarette smoke, will get the same protection and consideration as the rest of the working population. “I have just returned from Dublin, where I found that the w...
More About: News , Smoking , Leaders , Taxi

Fresno cab ride turns into a trip to the Twilight Zone
2007-06-09 10:35:00
Mike Osegueda   I stepped out of the strangest car ride of my life and shook my head. "That was the most Fresno cab ever," I said. It was my fiancée's birthday, and we were out celebrating. Usually when we go out, we decide before we leave who's imbibing and who's driving. That's life in Fresno, where the powers-that-be are steadfast about curtailing drunken driving, an honorable plight turned controversial. It has worked at our house. We're scared sober, often afraid to even have a glass of wine or a drink with dinner. But for Tanya's birthday, she wanted us both to have fun. We figured we'd be responsible folk and take a cab. Having heard people rant about how hard it is to hail a cab in Fresno, I called 411 about 45 minutes before we wanted to go home. I didn't know a particular taxi service to use, so I left it to the operator to pick one. Yam! Bam! Taxi coming. Party back on. But three minutes later, the taxi...
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Motorcyclist dies in crash with cab
2007-06-09 10:28:00
EDMONTON - A 56-year-old motorcyclist was killed Thursday night in a collision with a Yellow taxi cab making a left turn at a south-side intersection. Police believe speed and alcohol were factors in the crash. The taxi was southbound on 96th Street around 9 p.m., waiting to turn left at 74th Avenue, while the motorcyclist was travelling north at a high rate of speed, police said. The cab driver, who was unable to gauge how fast the motorcycle was going, made his turn. The motorcycle clipped the cab's rear end, throwing the motorcyclist about nine metres down the road, police said. The man was rushed to hospital, where he died. No charges have been laid. This is Edmonton's 12th traffic fatality of the year. http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/new s/story.html?id=41d965fe-9698-44ca-905a-7 c6c63151225&k=99507
More About: Crash , Motorcyclist , Dies

Police arrest 19 people
2007-06-09 04:38:00
Kelly Barker MERSEYSIDE Poli ce arrested 19 people, suspended two private hire taxi licenses, and seized 10 vehicles during a ten-hour operation on Wednesday. The operation was designed to deny criminals the use of the borough's roads and to ensure drivers are acting responsibly by enforcing road traffic legislation. The operation was run in partnership with VOSA, Taxi Licensing and The Highways Enforcement Agency. advertisementIt ran from 8am through to 8pm and involved road side stops, mobile ANPR units in hotspot locations and police officers targeting and arresting 10 named offenders for offences including car crime and assault. 19 people in total were arrested for a range of offences including possession of class A drugs, assault, harassment and theft of motor vehicle. 43 hackney taxis were checked and two private hire licenses were immediately suspended and seven conditional notices were served. 10 vehicles were seized for offences including driving without i...
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Slain Cabbie May Have Thrown Coffee
2007-06-08 09:39:00
BALTIMORE -- Baltimore city police have learned more information about what may have sparked a road rage incident that ended with the slaying of a cab driver. Ghulam Mustafa, 33, was shot in the head in Charles Village after having a confrontation with another driver around 9 p.m. Tuesday. Officials said Thursday that Mustafa may have thrown coffee at the other driver's vehicle after being cut off.   Mustafa's slaying was the 130th in the city this year and was the latest in a string of similar incidents that appear to be growing in number, state police said. In April, two people were killed on Interstate 270 after a road rage incident near Frederick. The killers in both cases remain on the loose. To avoid becoming a victim of road rage, AAA said drivers should not make eye contact with other motorists, do not tailgate others, and if someone is tailgating you -- move over. AAA also said drivers shouldn't allow themselves to be provoked. http://www....
More About: Coffee , Throw

Wrong-way limo given escort off
2007-06-08 09:33:00
 A white stretch limousine traveled the wrong way on H-1 Freeway for several minutes in the Liliha-Makiki area last night before a police patrol car escorted it safely off. Police said the limo was observed heading east in the freeway's westbound lanes about 8:30 p.m. A police dispatcher said it was possible the limo entered the westbound lanes via the School Street offramp. Several minutes later, it was reported that a police car escorted the limo off the freeway. http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pb cs.dll/article?AID=/20070607/NEWS18/70607 0367/1029/NEWS
More About: Limo , Wrong , Cort

Chauffeur fleet goes hybrid
2007-06-08 09:28:00
A major London-based executive chauffeur fleet operator is switching its cars to Lexus hybrids, saying that the emergence of the automaker's Hybrid Drive technology and the readiness of its customers to 'think green' has enabled it to start transforming its operations. Chauffeur-First already has a fleet of 18 Lexus GS 450h sedans, all in top-specification SE-L trim, and two new LS 600h sedans are on order along with another five GS 450h. The company hopes to order another 20 Lexus hybrid cars before the end of the year. Its existing 62-vehicle fleet includes BMW, Mercedes and Audi executive models, as well as conventionally powered Lexus GS 300s. Chauffeur-First intends to phase these out and replace them with Lexus hybrids, retaining only a number of Chrysler Grand Voyager MPVs for use when extra capacity is required. Chauffeur-First said 60% of its work is made up of airport runs and inter-city transfers, and the rest is general transport around London. "...
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Should Women Be Allowed to Drive?
2007-06-08 09:23:00
MEMRI In a television debate, that aired May 19, 2007 on LBC TV, Saudi women's rights activist Sleiman Al-Sleiman, Intisar Falamban of the Saudi road safety department, and Dr. Sleiman Al-'Eid, head of the Islamic Culture department at King Saud University, debated whether women should be allowed to drive. While Al-Sleiman stated that women needed to drive because they had begun to leave the home to work and do errands, Falamban argued that she was more concerned about protecting children from traffic accidents and was not demanding this right. Dr. Al-'Eid warned that driving would lead women to leave their homes more often, wear makeup, and uncover their faces, and would also undermine men's custodianship over them. The following are excerpts from the debate. To view this clip, please visit: http://www.memritv.org/search.asp?ACT=S9& amp;P1=1475.   Saudi Women Need To Drive Sleiman Al-Sleiman, women's rights activist: "We hope an imme...
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Taxi drivers' strike 'close'
2007-06-07 09:09:00
Kelly Livesey TAXI drivers are on the verge of launching further strike action after talks with a council failed to settle their dispute. A meeting yesterday was the first time the two sides have sat down together since April, when 70 angry drivers brought Rawtenstall town centre traffic down to a snail's pace as a show of no confidence in Rossendale Council's licensing department. Members of Rossendale Taxi Association said it was down to a lack of communication from the council over proposed measures such as the introduction of new coloured identification plates and badges. They fear the new badges will end up costing them money and also have safety concerns about a taxi rank in Bacup. The council agreed to discuss the drivers' issues but Glenn Bulcock, vice chairman of the association and owner of GB Taxis in Bacup, said he was dissatisfied with the outcome of the meeting. He said: "One of the main issues is the Lumb Scar rank, in Bacup. It is unlit and...
More About: News , Drivers , Close , Strike

Cabbie courage
2007-06-07 09:01:00
TRIBUTES have been paid to a Millom businessman and father-of-three, who has died from cancer. Peter Dickinson, owner of Pete’s Taxis, died peacefully at Millom Hospital on Monday, aged 49. Friends and family say he fought the illness, which was diagnosed last September, with dignity and courage. Now one of the main taxi firms in the area, Mr Dickinson built the company up after starting with just one old black cab. It now boasts six cars, three minibuses and a coach. His wife Ann said: “Peter was originally from Egremont and we came here to live about 29 years ago. He was a very hard worker and a family man. He was a qualified mechanic so he did his own vehicles. “Outside of work he’d go on lots of walks with his children, although they called them hikes when they came back with sore feet. “He was very much a family man.” Michael Fretter, of Newton Terrace, Millom, was firm friends with Mr Dickinson for more than 20 years and w...
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Illegal poaching pushing us out of town, say taxi drivers
2007-06-06 15:46:00
READING private hire drivers say they are being put out of business by poaching out-of-town rivals. And they accuse Reading Borough Council of being soft on operators licensed by South Oxfordshire and Wokingham councils who have been working illegally in the town for years. Manzoor Hussain, 49, who owns Yellow Cars in London Road said: "Our drivers are being pushed out of town with the recent influx of out-of-borough drivers.We are losing our livelihood." And Bashir Ahmed, 48, chairman of the Reading Private Hire Association, said: "Our private hire drivers and black cab drivers feel they are losing business because of other drivers touting in the area. "This is unfair and we would like our local authority to look into this issue." A Hackney carriage can ply for hire in the street or at a rank but private hire vehicles must always be pre-booked. Reading borough said it is working on the problem with licensing teams from neighbouring authorities...
More About: Drivers , Town , Illegal , Shin

South of the river? No, not me, mate.
2007-06-06 15:42:00
terry No, this isn't what Moses said before he parted the Red Sea! Is it just apochryphal that all black cab cabbies use this as a response when asked to travel over many of London's river bridges? Or do they actually use it? During a brief period when I was working in Leningrad, USSR (nowadays known as St Petersburg, Russia), I went out one night to celebrate with a couple of other Brits. Probably mid-June for the Festival of Lights when it doesn't actually get dark. Somehow, I ended up well after midnight on one of the islands, the other side of one of the main canals or river tributary from my hotel. No problem, you might think - just walk back. No could do, as in those days - perhaps it is still the same - most,if not all of the main bridges, canal and river, were opened at midnight to allow water-borne traffic to move freely. And they didn't bring 'em down until early morning. So I spent the night in some hotel lobby. But before realising all this...
More About: Hackney Carriage , River , South , Mate

Mapp Transportation navigates luxury transportation business
2007-06-06 15:36:00
Blane Bachelor   Unparalleled personal service driving young company's growth For more than 11 years during the commute from his home in Snellville to his job at Ford Motor Company's now-closed plant in Hapeville, Jim Mapp took note of the traffic - specifically, the number of sleek black cars on the highway. "I would always think, 'That guy is driving a nice car, wearing a nice suit, and that looks like a nice job,'" Mapp recalls. "Then, over the years, I noticed that the cars were looking not so nice, and I would think, 'That industry looks like it's going down.' And that's what's happened - the demand for the business has gone up so high that the quality has suffered." Mapp sensed an opportunity in that decline, and when he was laid off by Ford, he decided to make a move. With a severance package, he and his wife, Brandy, founded Mapp Trans portation ,  serving customers within a 75-mile radius from Hartsfield...
More About: Business , Luxury , Gates

$100m a week for transport
2007-06-06 15:28:00
  A RECORD $100 million will be spent each week on Queensland's roads, busways, ports and rail links over the coming year, the State Government says. Trans port and Main Roads Minister Paul Lucas yesterday said $5.53 billion had been allocated in the 2007-08 State Budget to improve safety, build new roads and deliver a major boost to public transport services. "We'll be spending more than $100 million every week building and maintaining the highways, busways, ports and rail links that keep Queensland moving," Mr Lucas said. "That's a massive boost for transport infrastructure (from last year) of 24.4 per cent, or $485.9 million, and for roads a huge 54 per cent increase, or $1.07 billion." Mr Lucas said the package included more and better buses and trains, new and faster routes, and a growing, world-class network of dedicated busways, which had been allocated $318.1 million next year. Train passengers would benefit from an additi...
More About: The Future , Week , Spor

Tip the cabbie a wink
2007-06-06 15:24:00
Paul Styles with two of his pedicabs Hail a Pedicab in York for free. Er, unless of course, (wink wink) you want to tip the rider of these three-wheel rickshaws. That is how 23-year-old barman Paul Styles is managing to steer a tricky path around the licensing laws which normally apply to hailing a cab. Paul, who bases his business at Parkside Commercial Centre, in Skeldergate, has four of the vehicles up and running, mostly within the city centre (and two to come). He relies purely on business sponsors to fund the venture. So far he has been backed by the likes of The Cock And Bottle, in Skeldergate, The Varsity Bar, in Lendal, and York Digital Image, in Ousebridge. Paul said: "I found this loophole in the licensing rules, at least temporarily until the authorities devise tailor-made licensing rules for Pedicabs." A team of four part-time cyclists offer the service to the public between say, restaurant and theatre and pub to club. Paul said: "It is an id...
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Taxis to stop in 'No Stopping' zones
2007-06-06 08:34:00
Melissa Britten   Catching a taxi should be a little easier in Sydney, with cabs allowed to pull-up in some 'No Stop ping' zones. Under a three month trial, cabbies will be allowed to stop in specially sign-posted areas in the CBD for one minute to drop off or pick-up passengers. Taxi Council chief Howard Harrison says the move makes sense for many reasons. “It will help with the traffic flow, it will allow taxi drivers to their job properly and we hope that passengers who want to catch a taxi will stand there and hail so we can pick them up without the risk of a $180 fine,” Mr Harrison said.   http://www.2gb.com/index.php?option=com_c ontent&task=view&id=2411&Item id=204
More About: Zone , Axis , Ping

Chevie Sold
2007-06-05 12:56:00
This car is an original Airport Limo, converted by Stageway. It was sold originally by Queen City Chevrolet, in Ohio. There were suppossedly only 20 Chevies converted that year. The guy I got it from did the major conversion work. It has a Camaro front clip, with power steering, disc brakes, 305, with the Over-drive 700-R tranny. Camaro rear end, new dual exhaust. The car starts right up and goes down the road fine. The downside, it doesn't steer very well. There are 2 solutions. The Camaro clip is lower than the stock frame , so the tires are farther up into the wheel wells. Either a taller set of springs, or radius the wheel wells to match the steering radius. The interior has to be done. only a very back seat and driver seat in the car. ALL RUST HAS BEEN REPAIRED, INCLUDING THE FLOORS . The luggage rack is all original including oak wood on the roof. The car has frame supports from the conversion company along with roof and trunk supports. There is a trunk load of...
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South Africa: Search for Solutions to Taxi Turf Battles
2007-06-05 11:39:00
Khulu Phasiwe THE recent outbreak of violence over lucrative taxi routes is all the more reason why municipalities should take full control of SA's taxi ranks and allocate routes to taxi organisations, according to the transport department. At least one driver was killed and scores of passengers injured during a shoot-out between the Faraday Taxi Association (FTA) and the Dobsonville, Roodepoort, Leratong, Johannesburg Taxi Association (Dorljota) at the Bree Street taxi rank in Johannesburg last Monday. This follows the FTA's decision to introduce taxis on the lucrative route between central Johannesburg and Radiokop on the West Rand. Dorljota claims the FTA, which operates between central Johannesburg and Katlehong, Vosloorus and Thokoza on the East Rand, has no jurisdiction over areas which fall within the municipality of Johannesburg. Dorljota claims the route belongs to its members but the transport department says the allocation of routes is the province of mun...
More About: Africa , South Africa , Search , South , Solutions

Grey Cab switches to FlexFuel
2007-06-05 09:44:00
CARTER HAYDU Grey Cab is going green. The longtime taxi service recently replaced three of its units with three new Chrysler FlexFuel minivans. The vehicles, purchased from Anderson Motors, run on conventional unleaded gasoline, as well as fuel that is 15 per cent gasoline and 85 per cent ethanol, which burns cleaner. Sherry Ouellette, Grey Cab owner, hopes her example will inspire other local residents and companies to find environmentally friendly options where possible. "If everyone did a little part, there'd be a big difference," she said. "We're doing our part." By 2009, Sherry plans to switch her entire eight-vehicle fleet to FlexFuel. The clean-burning cabs are recognizable by the green lettering on them, as opposed to red lettering on the other Grey cabs. Sherry said the new cabs won't result in higher fares for the customers. Thursday morning, at the Grey Cab office, Mayor Jim Scarrow, Grey Cab staff, as well as Anderson Motors...
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Škoda carried presidents
2007-06-05 09:39:00
  Škoda Auto became official partner and official car of the 14th meeting of Central European presidents in Brno, South Moravia, May 24–26. Altogether, 21 Škoda Superb Elegance black limousines with 2.5 liter V6 TDI engines were part of the official presidential convoy. This partnership is a continuation of the cooperation between Škoda Auto and the Prague Castle administration. On a daily basis, the President’s office uses another 13 Škoda Superb cars. Presidents of Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Italy, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldavia, Poland, Austria, Romania, Slovakia, Serbia and Ukraine took part in this meeting. Some participants in the Brno summit rode in Volkswagen Passat limousines. “The opportunity to take part by giving a fleet of 30 Passat limousines is confirmation of the quality of our models and services,” said Vratislav Strašil, head of the passenger car division of Import...
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Seven companies appointed to manage the 21st century taxi network in Abu Dh
2007-06-04 15:24:00
Abu Dhabi's Taxi and Hire Car Regulation Centre today announced that seven UAE-based companies have been awarded the franchise for operating and managing the new taxi network in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. In line with Law No. 19 of the year 2006, H.E. Abdulla Rashid Al Otaiba, Chairman of the Department of Transport, endorsed the list of winning taxi franchisees. Following a competitive tender launched in 2006, bidders' proposals were evaluated against comprehensive criteria that took into account the company's technical and management capabilities, financial strength, understanding of the taxi sector, and the company's level of preparation to contribute to the successful launch of the taxi sector in Abu Dhabi Emirate. Each franchise company will launch a fleet of 1,020 taxis over a phased timeline of three to five years. The total fleet size will be around 7,140 taxis and the first batch of new taxis is anticipated to hit Abu Dhabi streets in the last quarter o...
More About: Companies , Network , Mana , Manage , Compa

Woman assaulted by 'taxi driver'
2007-06-04 15:19:00
A 19-year-old woman was seriously sexually assaulted after accepting a lift from a man who picked her up at a bus stop, claiming to be a taxi driver. Surrey Police have released details of the incident, which happened in Epsom in the early hours on 14 April, to try to find witnesses to help the inquiry. The assault took place in a car park by the Nonsuch Park Hotel in London Road. The man had driven her there in a red Toyota car after picking her up in Burleigh Road, Sutton, south London. Allowed to leave The woman had been with a friend with whom she then parted company. The driver stopped and told her the friend had said she was looking for a cab. After the sexual assault, the victim was driven to a roundabout on the A3 and allowed to leave the car. The suspect is described as white, aged over 45, 5ft 9in tall, of average build with straight grey collar-length hair and long sideburns. He also spoke with a London accent. The R-registration vehicle was a ...
More About: News , Taxi Driver , Driver , Woman , Taxi

Taxi Driver Hit After Police Chase Dies
2007-06-04 15:16:00
State Poli ce Pursuit Policy Under Review SOMERVILLE, Mass. -- A taxi driver struck by an SUV fleeing a high-speed police pursuit last weekend died Sunday morning, the Middlesex District Attorney's Office said. Walid Chahine, 45, died one week after his cab was struck by an SUV driven by Javier Morales, 29, of Somerville. He is the second person killed in the crash. A third person was seriously injured.   Morales was driving with a suspended license when police ordered him to pull over in Everett. State police said Morales refused to stop and led an officer on a chase into Somerville. Musician and Tufts University graduate Paul Farris, 23, of Medford was killed in the crash. Katelyne Hoyt, his girlfriend, suffered critical injuries. Both were passengers in Chahine's cab. Chahine leaves a wife and 4-year-old son. The state police have extended their sympathies to the victims of the crash and said they are reviewing their policies in high-speed pursuits. Mora...
More About: Taxi Driver , Driver , Chase

Limo firm drives to the rescue
2007-06-04 15:11:00
Sue Smart A COMPANY specialising in luxury limousines has driven to the rescue of a charity that provides holidays in the UK for children affected by the Chernobyl distaster. Jeannette Jones, secretary of the Deeside and Ellesmere Port Link of the Chernobyl Children Lifelines said 12 children from Belarus, will be arriving on July 16 but that the charity had been "absolutely stuck" for transport to bring them from Manchester Airport. However, she said Peter Stubbs, from Sophie's Limo 's, in Chester, has kindly offered to pick them up from the airport. Mrs Jones also said the charity needed help with transport over three days to take the children to Greenwood Forest Park near Caenarfon, to Conwy, and also to the Winsford Police Station. If anyone could possibly help by providing mini-buses or other transport for the children, they should contact her on 01244 818940. A spokesman from the national charity Chernobyl Children Life Line, founded in 1991, said Bel...
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Luxury Cars Stolen From Driveways
2007-06-04 04:30:00
An upscale Lexington neighborhood is on guard after nearly a dozen cars were stolen from outside the owner's homes. It happened early Saturday morning in the Glen Eagles subdivision off of Polo Club Blvd. Nearly every house on an entire block had their cars broken into, some were even stolen. The thieves seemed to have expensive taste, stealing SUV's, BMW's and Lexus'. Most of the cars taken were later found heavily damaged and abandoned near Henry Clay Blvd. Witnesses say they saw one stolen car being driven by three white teenagers, who looked barely old enough to drive. Lexington police are investigating whether the string of car thefts this weekend are all connected. http://www.wkyt.com/news/headlines/781720 7.html
More About: Cars , Luxury , Stolen , Luxury Car , Driveway

Chauffeur still waits for payout
2007-06-03 20:24:00
David Jackson ON Sunday it will be 150 days since the deadline passed for Kettering Council to pay its former chauffeur £42,000 compensation, awarded following an employment tribunal in November last year. Mr Hammond, 58, won his appeal against unfair dismissal after the tribunal rejected the case by Kettering Council that he had stolen diesel by filling his own fuel can while refuelling the mayor's car. More than seven months on Mr Hammond, of Fernie Close, Barton Seagrave, is yet to receive a penny in payment. Mr Hammond said: "As every day passes the whole situation gets more and more depressing. "As I understand, the council's solicitor did eventually apply for an extension to the time in which they have to appeal. "It's got very complicated and we have had to turn to our solicitor for help interpreting some of the information. "As far as I'm aware, at the moment it is in the hands of a registrar who will decide if the cou...
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Cabbies' go slow in licences protest
2007-06-03 20:20:00
ANGRY cabbies across the region have taken part in protests demanding a cap on the amount of taxis on the roads. They held a series of slow drives around Darlington, Stockton, Middlesbrough and Gateshead at rush-hour yesterday morning to press their case. They have also been asking for more rank space to be made available to them. More protests have been promised unless authorities act to reduce the number of licences being issued. The drivers say they are being forced out of business and have called for a survey into the demand and need for taxis. Part of the problem, say some taxi drivers, is that there has been an influx of Eastern European, particularly Polish, drivers. In Darlington, about 20 to 30 cabbies took part in a slow drive round the ring-road before congregating in Crown Street. Lucy Archer, chairwoman of Darlington Hackney carriage and Private Hire Association, said: "At the moment, there's something like over 200 hackney carriages and only seve...
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