DEFENDING THE WRONGLY ACCUSED: How taxi representatives stands up for taxi drivers facing false claims
In professional taxi driving, safeguarding reputations and livelihoods is no small matter. When accusations arise—whether genuine or baseless—the impact can be significant. Recognising this, driver representatives like the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA) continues to play a vital role in defending its members against false claims.
Speaking to TAXI Newspaper, Anthony Street, an LTDA Executive, explained how the organisation supports drivers facing allegations of offences they did not commit. He highlighted cases where drivers received penalty charge notices linked to vehicles they did not recognise, only to find that their taxis had been cloned.
Street described how the LTDA liaised with Transport for London (TfL) and the police to ensure all charges were dropped.
One case involved a driver accused of being involved in a hit-and-run incident. Initially, John was unsure whether he could have been near the location in question. However, the LTDA worked closely with ComCab, uncovering evidence that he was completing a pre-booked job at the time. This evidence was presented to the police, who subsequently dismissed all charges.
The association’s ability to step in with expertise and evidence highlights the importance of professional representation for drivers. It also demonstrates the challenges drivers can face when mistaken identity or vehicle cloning comes into play. For members, the reassurance of having such support in their corner is clear.
Street said in TAXI Newspaper: “We have also supported members facing accusations of offences they did not commit. For example, some drivers received letters from the Metropolitan Police or bailiffs demanding payment for penalty charge notices they knew nothing about, only to discover their cabs had been cloned. The LTDA worked to have all charges dropped and liaised with TfL and the police.
“One such case involved John, who was accused of a hit-and- run incident. Initially uncertain whether he was at the location of the incident, we worked with ComCab to gather evidence proving he was completing a booked journey elsewhere at the time. We provided this evidence to the police, who subsequently dropped all charges.”
