Chap found with 1,5 million euros in a suitcase

A Frenchman in a taxi has been unfortunate enough to have 1,5 million euros in cash confiscated by the coppers. It happened whilst he was in the back of the cab in Valencia. A routine traffic control stopped the taxi – the coppers were looking for unlicensed or illegal taxis, and wanted to check the papers of the driver. But the suspicious behaviour of the passenger, who was clutching a “massive” suitcase, aroused the suspicion Continue reading Chap found with 1,5 million euros in a suitcase

Cordoba taxi reform turns nasty

The city of Córdoba is reforming its taxi bylaws, after a campaign by consumer union FACUA, which says they’re a decade out of date. Trouble is, the new bylaws aren’t much better, and FACUA turned nasty over the issue. One contentious little new bylaw rules that if you ring for a taxi via a service, the meter drops from the second the driver gets the order, and not from when the client actually climbs aboard.

Taxis to strike across Spain in protests at liberalisation measures

Taxi organisations across Spain have organised a national strike for the 1st of August in protest at a new law that is designed to free up competition in the sector. The new Ley de Ordenación del Transporte Terrestre (LOTT) aims to allow private vehicle rental with chauffeurs to be permitted. Currently, companies who rent out vehicles with drivers can only offer 1 vehicle for every 30 taxi licenses in the town of operation, which in Continue reading Taxis to strike across Spain in protests at liberalisation measures

More on the “free taxi to A&E” debate

Following on from my comments about Spectrum FM carping on about free taxis to A&E, I was interested to note that early next month a new law (ok, ok, regional decree, whatever) redefining the taxi sector in Andalucía comes into force. We’ve been waiting for this since 2003, by the way. First of all, the bit about taxis being free to A&E: Checking the Real Decreto 763/1979, de 16 de marzo, por el que se Continue reading More on the “free taxi to A&E” debate

What is Spectrum FM on about? Free taxis to hospital, indeed…

Whilst traveling in someone’s car who had the radio tuned to Spectrum FM, I heard the following snippet of wisdom which went something like this: Spectrum FM top tip: Taxis are obliged to take emergency cases to hospital for free. Whaaaaaat? No they’re not. Leaving the obvious fact that who is to decide which is an “emergency case” and which is just a standard paid-for trip to the hospital (do you have to submit your Continue reading What is Spectrum FM on about? Free taxis to hospital, indeed…

Almeria airport to get illegal taxi watching station

I at first assumed the news was talking about how sad local planespotters are at the decline of traffic to LEI, better known as Almeria International Airport, and were switching to spotting illegal taxis. However, upon re-reading the news, I spot that the watchers are actually police officers, who will be setting up in a specially built observation post to identify and catch illegal taxi drivers picking up and dropping off passengers at the airport. Continue reading Almeria airport to get illegal taxi watching station

29 illegal taxis seized in province

A police swoop over the weekend has resulted in 29 illegal taxi drivers having their vehicles confiscated, and receiving severe fines of between 1,500€ and 6,000€. These taxi drivers, who mainly take people to the airport and bus station, have all been the subject of a series of complaints from watchers from the official taxi guild. The official taxis have long been pressing for a greater crackdown on illegal taxi drivers, especially the ones carrying Continue reading 29 illegal taxis seized in province

Vera taxis (refusing to join main association) create their own

Vera taxis (all 6 of them) have, in a desire to provide their clients with a professional, fast, easy and 24/7 service, setup their own hotline and taxi association. The number is 902 394 545 and the idea is that one of them will always be around to cater for people in Vera needing a taxi. This is fine and laudable, except that there is already a good taxi association covering the rest of the Continue reading Vera taxis (refusing to join main association) create their own