No, chef, that's not what drive-in (to airport) service means

[watty]

sting operation | Chef caught running illegal taxi was charging just €35 from Mullingar to Dublin Airport

A cash-strapped chef who set up an illegal taxi service by charging customers just €35 from a midlands town to Dublin Airport was caught red handed by National Transport Authority officials in an undercover ‘sting operation’, a court has heard. Father of one Mahendrasingh Ramchurn (38), of Grange Village, Mullingar, Westmeath, told inspectors while he was fully aware the service he had been providing was an offence, it had been done purely as a means towards covering his petrol costs to Dublin where he worked as a chef.

... Compliance officer with the state body, Anthony Carey gave evidence of the covert operation which took place on June 13 last year.  He said its origins were borne out of information which had come to the NTA’s attention concerning an online advertisement of a suspected illicit hackney service which was operating from Westmeath to Dublin.  Mr Carey said after booking the fare to take him to Dublin Airport, he got into Ramchurn’s 08-registered car outside Loreto College, along Mullingar’s Harbour Street before handing the agreed €35 fee to the accused.  Ramchurn’s car was later stopped en route to the airport by members of the Meath/Westmeath Divisional Roads Policing Unit where Mr Carey revealed to the accused he was in fact a compliance officer with the public transport licensing agency.  Mr Carey said when he asked Ramchurn why he was operating a taxi service for financial gain without a licence, the accused replied after caution: “I am providing a service (and the) €35 only covers the petrol.”  The court was told Ramchurn, who had no previous convictions to his name, was “very cooperative” during his exchange with the NTA official.

... Judge Bernadette Owens consequently convicted and fined Ramchurn €600 for one of the summonses, giving him 10 months to pay in the process. He was also ordered to pay €300 in costs.  The second summons was, meanwhile, taken into consideration.

His defence arguement was novel.  He basically felt sorry for people standing at bus stops and the trip was free with a €35 contribution towards petrol!

I'd say if you rang the International Red Cross, they'd get you out of Mullingar for free    No need for dodgy chefs.

[Rat Catcher]

€900 fine is a bit steep. Woulda been closer to €90 if he was Irish by accident of birth.

[Dr. Martin Gooter Bling]

i keep tellin 1990 to contact Anthony Carey about his bogey problem.

[watty]

€900 fine is a bit steep. Woulda been closer to €90 if he was Irish by accident of birth.

Probably 'cause he had a job.  An Irish by accident of birth would be unemployed & only doing it to buy football boots for his promising soccer career!

[Rat Catcher]

Still, €900 for not buying a licence that isn't available. I've seen cases where criminals have been fined a mere €100 for not holding a TV licence which is readily available from any Post Office.

When you consider how often the probation act is applied to offenders with thousands of previous convictions in respect of real crimes with real victims it's more than a tad OTT.

[silverbullet]

sting operation | Chef caught running illegal taxi was charging just €35 from Mullingar to Dublin Airport

A cash-strapped chef who set up an illegal taxi service by charging customers just €35 from a midlands town to Dublin Airport was caught red handed by National Transport Authority officials in an undercover ‘sting operation’, a court has heard. Father of one Mahendrasingh Ramchurn (38), of Grange Village, Mullingar, Westmeath, told inspectors while he was fully aware the service he had been providing was an offence, it had been done purely as a means towards covering his petrol costs to Dublin where he worked as a chef.

... Compliance officer with the state body, Anthony Carey gave evidence of the covert operation which took place on June 13 last year.  He said its origins were borne out of information which had come to the NTA’s attention concerning an online advertisement of a suspected illicit hackney service which was operating from Westmeath to Dublin.  Mr Carey said after booking the fare to take him to Dublin Airport, he got into Ramchurn’s 08-registered car outside Loreto College, along Mullingar’s Harbour Street before handing the agreed €35 fee to the accused.  Ramchurn’s car was later stopped en route to the airport by members of the Meath/Westmeath Divisional Roads Policing Unit where Mr Carey revealed to the accused he was in fact a compliance officer with the public transport licensing agency.  Mr Carey said when he asked Ramchurn why he was operating a taxi service for financial gain without a licence, the accused replied after caution: “I am providing a service (and the) €35 only covers the petrol.”  The court was told Ramchurn, who had no previous convictions to his name, was “very cooperative” during his exchange with the NTA official.

... Judge Bernadette Owens consequently convicted and fined Ramchurn €600 for one of the summonses, giving him 10 months to pay in the process. He was also ordered to pay €300 in costs.  The second summons was, meanwhile, taken into consideration.

His defence arguement was novel.  He basically felt sorry for people standing at bus stops and the trip was free with a €35 contribution towards petrol!

I'd say if you rang the International Red Cross, they'd get you out of Mullingar for free    No need for dodgy chefs.

Good ole Anthony.

No more curry in a hurry for him!

[Taxi driver42]

35 euro?
Sure it be 20 in petrol up and back
Profit of 15 euro

What's the point

[Rat Catcher]

If/when we get US style rideshare it'll be €0.78 after commission... and there'll still be men to do it, probably!

[mercenary for hire]

I'd say the only reason he got done was because he was touting at the bus stops.

[Rat Catcher]

Maybe €35/head hoping for a 4 ball?

[Belker]

i keep tellin 1990 to contact Anthony Carey about his bogey problem.

1990 wants his nemisis caught but he seems unwilling to put his head above the parapet to do so ??

Both myself and SB agreed to a Joint venture a few years ago to help out 1990 with his bogey problems, as Two of the most conniving taxi minded Khounts ever, but 1990 refused our offer of help ??

I was actually looking forward to the fun of working on this once-off project with the devious SB, between us we legally would have run 1990's bogey-man the lenght and breath of the country fer no reward.

[Belker]

I'd say the only reason he got done was because he was touting at the bus stops.

... Compliance officer, Anthony Carey gave evidence of the covert operation. He said its origins were borne out of information which had come to the NTA’s attention concerning an online advertisement of a suspected illicit hackney service ....

[Taxi driver42]

All he had to fo was register as a rural hack

[Belker]

All he had to fo was register as a rural hack

Anyone have an idea of how much insurance is on a Rural Hack ?

[mercenary for hire]

Dunno Belker this is what he said

"His defence arguement was novel.  He basically felt sorry for people standing at bus stops and the trip was free with a €35 contribution towards petrol!"

It's not illegal for commuters to give each other lifts as long as they aren't making a profit.Contrubutions towards fuel are allowed.I'm guessing that was his angle and the didn't want to hear it.