Irish Taxi Forum
Public Area => Taxi Talk => Topic started by: john m on January 13, 2020, 04:16:55 pm
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A taxi driver scammed passengers 270 times over a six-month period by secretly using a remote control to add €9 to fares, a court has heard.
It was the second case to come before Dublin District Court since the National Transport Authority (NTA) launched an investigation into widespread use of a remote device to rip off unsuspecting taxi passengers.
Raymond Pidgeon (63), from Kilakee Close, Greenpark, Walkinstown, Dublin 12, pleaded guilty on Monday to overcharging customers 270 times contrary to the Taxi Regulation Act.
He was accused of using a concealed remote control device to increase fares on his meter, which he did 15 times a week from February 1st until June 12th last year.
As a result of mitigating factors, he was handed a nominal fine of €200 and ordered to pay €400 in prosecution costs. “This fine does not reflect the gravity of the offences,” Judge Anthony Halpin told the driver.
NTA inspector Liam Kavanagh told the court he investigated claims some taxis were systematically overcharging passengers by covertly using a remote device with certain meters.
Following a customer complaint, Pidgeon had been interviewed by the NTA in mid-June about a €20 overcharge on a fare. The inspector became suspicious by Pidgeon’s explanation and €9 could not be accounted for, the court heard.
He learned the taxi driver used an Aguila meter, the type that was being used with the remote control.
He cautioned Pidgeon again and told him he was also investigating the use of remote devices to overcharge taxi passengers.
“At that point he broke down and admitted he was one of the drivers,” the NTA inspector said. He had done it for eight months but could only be charged for the offences committed over the latest six-month period.
As a result of the NTA investigation, 206 taxi meters were recalled and had to be recalibrated.
Mr Pidgeon, who had no prior convictions, was co-operative. He represented himself at the hearing and apologised in court.
Prosecuting solicitor Jason Teahan said the NTA was aware the accused had a severely ill wife.
Judge Halpin asked the accused what had motivated him. Pidgeon replied that he had money worries and his wife had been in hospital.
Asked how he obtained the remote device, he said, “I bought it off a person”.
The NTA inspector said a lot of the 206 taxi meters involved had been based at Dublin Airport. “Taxi men tend to talk and unfortunately Mr Pidgeon listened,” he added.
The offence can result in a fine of up to €4,000.
Judge Halpin noted his guilty plea and co-operation with the NTA.
He praised the NTA inspector and noted the issues that had affected Pidgeon.
He had to record a conviction because of the seriousness of the offence, he said.
In November, the first prosecution arising from the same investigation came before the court and resulted in a fine of €750 being imposed on another driver who had used the device to over-charge passengers by €9 on 280 occasions.
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The NTA inspector said a lot of the 206 taxi meters involved had been based at Dublin Airport. “Taxi men tend to talk and unfortunately Mr Pidgeon listened,” he added.
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What a fukkin dip$hit..
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And you wonder why customers use apps ?
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These 206 taxi meters that had to be recalled, and calibrated I wonder who paid for that.was it the drivers,or the NTA
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Airport taximen are villains the world over. If you have any sense you Uber.
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He must be a Gickna Pidgeon.
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Coincidentally a passenger paying by card from McGowans asked did I know Patrick Lyons?
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Right, he did wrong, but he co-operated and probably gave up many more such offenders. This is great p.r. for FN. and for the NTA.
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These 206 taxi meters that had to be recalled, and calibrated I wonder who paid for that.was it the drivers,or the NTA
Most usually a recall is paid fer by the company that fitted the device.
I had a recent air-bag recall from Toyota cost nothing and I got a test drive in a Hybrid Corolla and free coffee while waiting.
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I'll bet he walked outta de court 'Clicking hiz heels' !
270 times over-charging by €9 = €2430
And he was fined a total of €600 !
With No sentence to serve and No re-pay to the customers and his Taxi licence intact.
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He tuned a negative into a positive....at least he wasn't ferrying drug-barons or providing criminals with alibis. He'll learn from this and become a valuable member of society as a result.
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He tuned a negative into a positive....at least he wasn't ferrying drug-barons or providing criminals with alibis. He'll learn from this and become a valuable member of society as a result.
And collect his pension in a few years time.
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A certain Factory man can do likewise............not the issue at all. There's those who are known to be criminals and those who aren't known.......the latter are the real scourge.
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His Solicitor said Mr Pidgeon wasn't a flight risk! 8)
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His Solicitor said Mr Pidgeon wasn't a flight risk! 8)
Now that IS funny lol lol
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I cant understand the statement AK 47 made a few years ago,when he said criminals would loose their licence,there was no mention of this fella loosing his licence
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I cant understand the statement AK 47 made a few years ago,when he said criminals would loose their licence,there was no mention of this fella loosing his licence
AK47.....he's a politician, he'd say mass that pox.
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Any time they've tried to remove licences from the criminals who work Dublin airport drivers' unions such as TTNH have challenged them in court, DM. IDTF even successfully challenged a Garda Superintendent's decision not to grant a new (first time) licence to a convicted drug dealer.
It's a bit like the 9 year rule... when we (drivers' unions) wanted it we thought it would get rid of all the blacks, we didn't want it for those of us who are white and Irish by accident of birth.
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But surely a ministerial order supersedes a court ruling does it not ?
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Double jeopardy Dalyer you cant be sentenced twice .Only murder and rape which are crimes against the person would lead to the possibility of you probably losing your licence .
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A bit like the mandatory 10 years for drug possession on amounts over €10,000, often mitigated down to community service.
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But surely a ministerial order supersedes a court ruling does it not ?
No. The Ministerial Order only empowers An Garda Siochana (RIC) to act. What the courts decide in the event of an appeal is the last word.
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He is a Robin Wood Pidgeon