Author Topic: Robbing lowlife Scum  (Read 2653 times)

john m

  • Guest
Robbing lowlife Scum
« on: January 13, 2020, 04:16:55 pm »
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.

john m

  • Guest
Re: Robbing lowlife Scum
« Reply #1 on: January 13, 2020, 04:25:13 pm »
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.

Offline markmiwurdz

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3681
  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Robbing lowlife Scum
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2020, 04:34:18 pm »
What a fukkin dip$hit..

john m

  • Guest
Re: Robbing lowlife Scum
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2020, 04:38:01 pm »
And you wonder why customers use apps ?

dalymount

  • Guest
Re: Robbing lowlife Scum
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2020, 04:45:48 pm »
These 206 taxi meters that had to be recalled, and calibrated I wonder who paid for that.was it the drivers,or the NTA

Offline Rat Catcher

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 22848
  • Karma: +34/-65535
  • Part Time Amateur Scum
Re: Robbing lowlife Scum
« Reply #5 on: January 13, 2020, 04:52:57 pm »
Airport taximen are villains the world over. If you have any sense you Uber.

Offline silverbullet

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 22153
  • Karma: +2/-0
Re: Robbing lowlife Scum
« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2020, 07:04:49 pm »
He must be a Gickna Pidgeon.

Offline silverbullet

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 22153
  • Karma: +2/-0
Re: Robbing lowlife Scum
« Reply #7 on: January 13, 2020, 07:06:29 pm »
Coincidentally a passenger paying by card from McGowans asked did I know Patrick Lyons?

The Liffey Lip

  • Guest
Re: Robbing lowlife Scum
« Reply #8 on: January 14, 2020, 07:40:02 am »
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.

Offline Belker

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 16544
  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Robbing lowlife Scum
« Reply #9 on: January 14, 2020, 08:11:42 am »
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.

Offline Belker

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 16544
  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Robbing lowlife Scum
« Reply #10 on: January 14, 2020, 08:20:52 am »
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.

The Liffey Lip

  • Guest
Re: Robbing lowlife Scum
« Reply #11 on: January 14, 2020, 09:42:56 am »
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.

Offline Shallowhal

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 14325
  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Robbing lowlife Scum
« Reply #12 on: January 14, 2020, 11:24:20 am »
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.

The Liffey Lip

  • Guest
Re: Robbing lowlife Scum
« Reply #13 on: January 14, 2020, 11:43:06 am »
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.

Offline silverbullet

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 22153
  • Karma: +2/-0
Re: Robbing lowlife Scum
« Reply #14 on: January 14, 2020, 02:32:17 pm »
His Solicitor said Mr Pidgeon wasn't a flight risk! 8)

 


Show Unread Posts