Drunk private hire driver swears out his window at Merseyside’s Road Policing Unit with passengers o
Merseyside's Road Policing Unit have made their 102nd arrest of a drink or drug-driving private hire or taxi driver in eleven months.
A tweet from the enforcement team today said "Today's useful tip! We strongly advise against driving private hire vehicles, with a fare on board, nearly twice the drink drive limit, whilst beeping a Police car and shouting swear words! 102 in 11 months"
Merseyside's private hire and taxi industry has been under scrutiny the last 12 months with a number of drivers arrested on drink and drug offences.
Taxipoint recently reported on the issue that Merseyside’s Road Policing Unit are facing when a 100th driver was arrested.
A spokesperson for the team said:"We will carry on working hard to support the majority of legal drivers in the trade."
The news follows on from previous tweets of a number of arrests made during a new scheme called Operation Nemesis which focused on roadside checks of taxi and private hire drivers. The leading Inspector said:"All motorists have a duty of care to themselves, those they are travelling with and other road users which is why it is particularly important that taxi drivers and private hire companies consider the risks they may be putting themselves and others in if they’re found to be driving whilst using drugs."
The latest tweet by the Road Policing Unit stirred up a response from other private hire drivers, with Tiberius Baltar tweeting: "Again with the highlighting of my trade. Next time you pull a car and find out the driver is drunk/drugged can you specify what job they do. Your making MY life more difficult by doing what your doing & I've done nothing to deserve it".
Reply to Baltar's unhappy comments about why the driver's profession is even relevant, Rob said:" It's highlighted because the standard expected is higher that of a normal driver, and he's putting his fare at risk as well. If it was my trade I'd want it highlighted to get it in order".
Images: Source; Twitter Author; @MerPolTraffic
