I am an independent Torquay cabbie or rather I was. I had two young females dodge a fare on me of £13.60 on Friday night, December 8.I picked them up from the Vaughan Parade rank and they asked to go to "White Rock Shops". As it turned out when we got to the top of Goodrington Road, they asked me to go down another side road, where they asked me to stop. When I did they stated they had to pop inside to get the money off the counter. "OK" I said. After all they were what appeared to be two respectable young ladies.

I watched them walk behind the car, and when they were perhaps 10 or 15 feet away they started to run. I thought "Oh, here we go". I slammed the car into reverse and as I drew alongside them they ran down an alleyway. I had to get out of the car, leave the engine running, door open and leg it after them.

After I ran down the alleyway in the dark, I did manage to catch up with one of them at the other end, who replied - when I said I would call the police - "Go on then!"

Anyway I think you get the picture.

If it had been two men I would have grabbed them kicking and screaming back to the car. But girls?

As a result of that experience I decided on Saturday that I've had enough - that's it!

I have spent the last almost seven years as a cabbie. Dealing with drunks, idiots, thickos, pond-life, single cell organisms the list goes on …

The idiots are not idiots because they have had a drink - they are just idiots, drunk or sober!

Don't get me wrong, not everyone falls into the above categories. The above are the minority who give this town and many other's a bad name. And yes, there are those in this town who do appreciate the services of a cabbie.

Perhaps next time you run a story about fare-dodging you should remind your readers, that under Section 3 of the 1978 Theft Act, it is an offence for which they can be arrested without warrant. And it carries a jail term of six months and/or fine.

I think in time all remaining cab drivers will consider going on strike in this town at some point. Imagine on a busy Saturday night that there isn't a single taxi on the roads.

Just imagine the fun that would create especially around the harbour. After all taxi drivers are not obliged to work. We are self-employed. In fact there is nothing in our council licences that states we have to. Maybe that would get the message across, that the behaviour of the idiots will not be tolerated! Full Stop!
 
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