Author Topic: Taxi stroker named in the Sunday World  (Read 13021 times)

Offline Shallowhal

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Re: Taxi stroker named in the Sunday World
« Reply #45 on: November 02, 2019, 01:22:33 pm »
Two different meter brands were targeted.

What was t'udder one.....i'm sweatin here...tell us ffs!!

Offline Bubba Ho-Tep

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Re: Taxi stroker named in the Sunday World
« Reply #46 on: November 02, 2019, 01:28:14 pm »
Two different meter brands were targeted.

What was t'udder one.....i'm sweatin here...tell us ffs!!
AFAIK Aquila and two Digitax models.

Offline Shallowhal

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Re: Taxi stroker named in the Sunday World
« Reply #47 on: November 02, 2019, 01:29:21 pm »
Two different meter brands were targeted.

What was t'udder one.....i'm sweatin here...tell us ffs!!
AFAIK Aquila and two Digitax models.

Phew!!

Offline Bubba Ho-Tep

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Re: Taxi stroker named in the Sunday World
« Reply #48 on: November 02, 2019, 01:31:47 pm »

Offline mercenary for hire

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Re: Taxi stroker named in the Sunday World
« Reply #49 on: November 11, 2019, 05:23:38 pm »
Only 750 fine...fukin gobshite.Probably an audit on the way too..
From the journal...
Taxi driver used remote control to add €9 onto fares without passenger knowing
He was fined €750 today for doing this 280 times.
9 minutes ago 1,609 6
   
A TAXI DRIVER ripped off passengers 280 times by secretly using a remote control to add €9 to fares without their knowledge, a court has heard.

Dublin District Court heard today that the scam unravelled when a tip-off led to one driver, followed by a recall of 206 other taximeters with which the remote device was compatible.

Judge Anthony Halpin said the amount of over-charging could have been “colossal”.

Robert Griffin, 66, of Maplewood Park, Springfield in Tallaght, was fined €750 after he pleaded guilty to 280 counts of over-charging contrary to the Taxi Regulation Act.

He was accused of using a concealed remote control device 20 times a week from 4 February until 10 May this year.

He was prosecuted following an investigation by the National Transport Authority (NTA) which discovered he covertly topped up the final fare on the taximeters.

The increase was added to the final fare on the completion of passengers’ journeys.

NTA inspector Liam Kavanagh told Judge Anthony Halpin that earlier this year he received information that a number of taxis were over-charging passengers using the remote device which was linked to some meters.

A confidential source led him to a taxi rank at Tallaght Hospital where the defendant was sitting in his car, he said.

Kavanagh told the court he carried out a routine inspection and found the remote control device in the driver’s door.

He suspected an offence had been committed and advised Griffin to hand it over.

“He admitted he had used the remote control to add extras to taxi fares,” the inspector said.

He was “visibly shaken” and told the NTA official he was not well.

Kavanagh told Judge Halpin he did not want to cause the driver too much upset at the rank and told him they could meet at the NTA inspection centre the following day, “and leave it until emotions had calmed down”.

Griffin agreed and when he went there his meter was inspected by the taxi metrology service. He was cautioned by the inspector and made full admissions that he used the remote device to add to fares.

Kavanagh explained that Griffin kept the remote fixed to the driver’s door with Velcro and as he drove along he pressed it, increasing the fare by €9 per journey.

The court heard some other drivers who used the device had kept it between their legs.

“The scam, for want of a better word, was closed down,” Kavanagh said.

As a result of specific information, Griffin had been targeted but his co-operation was “key” to the success of the operation, shortening it by a number of months, the court was told.

The NTA was aware of the sources of the devices, the court heard.

“The mind boggles,” remarked Judge Halpin after the facts were presented.

The NTA identified 206 taximeters that were sensitive to the remote, the court was told. They have been recalled for new software.

Not all of the recalled meters were linked to criminal offences but, the inspector added, they were all, “sensitive to this device”.

In pleas for leniency, the defence said Griffin, a grandfather, had heart issues and other health problems which were of grave concern. He did not give evidence or address the court at his hearing today.

He was not currently working and decided because of his health and this case not to operate a taxi, “and does not know if he will ever go back”, his solicitor told the court.

Griffin offered a full apology and accepted full responsibility, the solicitor submitted.

The offence carried a maximum possible fine of €4,000 and there were 280 counts on the summon, the court was told.

Finalising the case, Judge Halpin said the aggravating feature was the over-charging of people and use of the remote to bypass the proper measurement of fares by the taximeter.

Griffin had no prior convictions.

The judge said he was loath to look for intervention of the Probation Service because he did not think Griffin would be able to do community service work, so he was imposing a fine.

One feature that helped the accused in the measurement of the sanction was his co-operation with the NTA, the judge explained.

This allowed 206 other taxis to be checked out.

The court did not have evidence that all of them were involved “but”, Judge Halpin said, “many of them were”. The device deceived people, he also said.

Fining him €750, he noted Griffin’s early guilty plea and he accepted these proceedings gave rise to some of his health problems. He has six months to pay the fine.



Offline Rat Catcher

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Re: Taxi stroker named in the Sunday World
« Reply #50 on: November 11, 2019, 05:28:05 pm »
A monkey and a half with six moths to pay seems reasonable, fair play. No mention of costs though and the solicitor probably cost him a few ton cash in hand.

Offline mercenary for hire

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Re: Taxi stroker named in the Sunday World
« Reply #51 on: November 11, 2019, 05:32:17 pm »
Did the extras not show on the final total?Seems like an odd way to make your money.

Offline Shallowhal

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Re: Taxi stroker named in the Sunday World
« Reply #52 on: November 11, 2019, 05:46:26 pm »
Just tryin harder is our Mr G.

Offline mercenary for hire

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Re: Taxi stroker named in the Sunday World
« Reply #53 on: November 11, 2019, 05:49:00 pm »
66 years old so he probably has a couple of pensions..

Offline Dr. Martin Gooter Bling

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Re: Taxi stroker named in the Sunday World
« Reply #54 on: November 11, 2019, 06:26:36 pm »
knacker.

Offline Rat Catcher

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Re: Taxi stroker named in the Sunday World
« Reply #55 on: November 11, 2019, 06:30:46 pm »
Bit strong, Doc. Taximen have been fiddling meters for as long as we've had meters. One could say his only crime was to get caught.

Online watty

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Re: Taxi stroker named in the Sunday World
« Reply #56 on: November 11, 2019, 06:32:33 pm »
Edit: added link for quotes: https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/taxi-driver-had-secret-remote-control-to-add-9-onto-fares-and-used-it-280-times-court-hears-963171.html

Quote
The offence carried a maximum possible fine of €4,000 and there were 280 counts on the summons, the court was told.
"the offence" is presumably for one offence, not 280?

Quote
Fining him €750, he noted Griffin’s early guilty plea and he accepted these proceedings gave rise to some of his health problems.  He has six months to pay the fine.
€9 x 280 = approx €2,500.  So he basically made €1,750 in profit & got his photo in the Sunday World.

Quote
One feature that helped the accused in the measurement of the sanction was his co-operation with the NTA, the judge explained.  This allowed 206 other taxis to be checked out
I guess he won't be getting any Xmas cards from his comrades...
« Last Edit: November 11, 2019, 06:35:05 pm by watty »

Offline silverbullet

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Re: Taxi stroker named in the Sunday World
« Reply #57 on: November 11, 2019, 08:21:44 pm »
Buy one now
Get off virtually Scot free:
https://images.app.goo.gl/aHCpaLtdDtsL8FTv8 8)

Offline silverbullet

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Offline Belker

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Re: Taxi stroker named in the Sunday World
« Reply #59 on: November 12, 2019, 06:03:50 am »
I hate to see what are supposed to be 'Grown men' going in to court and playing the violin !
There wasn't too much wrong with him when he was illegally adding on all the extras. Coward !

Scum ! He should have got a short custodial sentence, that might be a deterrent to others not to do the same ?
He made 2.5K out of the scam and was fined 750 !  Where is the justice in that ?

 


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