Subscribe to RSSDodgy Cabs Fined
Heavy fines have been imposed on the director of three Auckland taxi companies who allowed some of his drivers to operate taxis without the correct passenger service licence.
Krishna Lal was fined a total of $9200 after pleading guilty in the Henderson District Court to a total of 14 charges relating to taxi licences. The charges involved three companies operated by Mr Lal: Era Cabs Ltd, Budget Taxis Ltd and Waitakere Taxis Ltd.
District Court Judge Oke Blaikie told Mr Lal that people operating a taxi service had a significant obligation to ensure drivers were properly qualified and operated within the law.
NZTA today welcomed the conviction.
Harry Wilson, acting Manager for the NZTA’s Access and Use group, which is responsible for monitoring the taxi industry, said Mr Lal’s conviction delivered a clear message to the taxi industry ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup.
“The licensing system underpins the integrity and quality of our taxi services, provides people with confidence in taxi services, and promotes the safety of customers and other roads users,” says Mr Wilson.
“The door to a taxi is likely to be the first many visiting rugby fans will open when they arrive in New Zealand, and this court case will help ensure that they will be able to do so with confidence in the taxi industry and its drivers.”
File photo of Auckland cabs -not the ones involved!
Mr Lal’s conviction followed a complaint to the NZTA about one of his drivers abusing the Total Mobility scheme, a subsidised taxi service providing a 50% discount off normal fares for people with serious mobility constraints.
A woman in her 80s, unable to speak following a stroke, was charged $70 instead of a more appropriate $15 taxi fare.
In a separate case, the driver was convicted of fraud and sentenced to 175 hours community service. The NZTA revoked the passenger service endorsement on his licence and banned him from operating a taxi for 5 years.
4 Comments
Unrelated, but I’m looking forward to that taxi rank pictured above being removed from Fort Street along with all the other parking.
Auckland taxi’s are not good. They charge too much and there is too many of them.
@DanC Read my tale of a scary ride from a recent Afghan arrival http://www.aktnz.co.nz/2010/02/19/taxi-company-taken-off-road-bigger-clean-up-needed/
Yep that’s a nervous ride Jon C. I haven’t had it that bad, but I have had smelly & lost journeys with a touch of a feel that they think they are owed more than what they earn and are angry about it.