Police Telling Uber Passengers "Don't Travel Alone, Don't Tell Driver Where You Live After Yet Another UberRape

Unbelievably SAN ANTONIO police are giving out safety tips to young ladies to stop their Uber drivers raping them, after an Uber driver was arrested, following an accusation of sexually assaulting by a female passenger inside her apartment over the weekend.

Did they not consider revoking Uber's licence or at leas telling young ladies to get proper licensed Taxis?

On Saturday, July 14, the woman called police to report that she had been sexually assaulted by driver Jacobo Manuel Gutierrez, 32. 

According to the affidavit, the woman had been drinking at Slackers bar off Nacogdoches Road when she decided to call an Uber to take her home. 

During the ride, the woman said the driver stopped in a vacant parking lot and began touching her without consent.

Sounds familiar to the 48 Uber passengers who were raped by Uber drivers in London last year according to the Met Police statistics. 

The driver then drove the woman home and followed her into the apartment. Once inside, the woman said Gutierrez sexually assaulted her in her bedroom while she was unable to protect herself.

Gutierrez told police that he helped the woman into her apartment because she was drunk. He claims to have left his cell phone in the apartment and returned to find that she had called police.

During a police interview, Gutierrez eventually told officer that he had touched the woman inside the apartment and engaged in sexual activities.

Gutierrez was arrested and faces charges for sexual assault. 

Uber said the driver has been removed from the app and released the following statement:

“What’s been reported is horrible and has no place anywhere. We’ve provided information to the San Antonio Police Department and will continue to support their investigation and proceedings in any way possible."

"Be aware of your surroundings, always be aware of what's going on. This is probably the best advice I can give you," said SAPD Officer Carlos Ortiz.

Ortiz also says it's important for passengers, especially women, to be extra cautious when taking rides.

Along with keeping your eyes and ears open, don't drink too much and make sure the vehicle that pulls up matches the one you ordered.　

"When your vehicle comes up, taking a picture of the license plate of that vehicle, just making sure you have some evidence of the vehicle that you were in. That helps police a lot of times because running a plate - whether it's a Texas plate or not a state plate - gives us information on whole that vehicle is registered to," he said.

When it comes to your route getting home, Ortiz says you don't have to make the trip alone.

"One of the things that another person can do is use the pool or the ride share where you actually have to pick up another patron. This way there's two people in the vehicle," Ortiz said.

You can also use a different destination so the driver won't know where you live.

"Finding a well-lit area, a gas station, maybe that's 24-7 where there's going to be people around. Calling a friend or getting out and calling police. A lot of times we can try to help you out in situations that are tough when you're experiencing some sort of weird environment inside a taxi or maybe even a ride share," Ortiz said.

Not once did SADP police offer the advice of getting a legitimate licensed Taxi home. 

So the SAPD are saying 

"Don’t travel alone in an Uber, give a fake destination, don't get dropped off at your house, choose a public place, then get a friend to meet you there."

Then hope your account isn't charged falsely for a clean up job.

How is this company still allowed to operate? 

Meanwhile, here in London:  

How many serious sexual assaults are TfL responsible for since they allowed Uber to keep working by not revoking their licence last August when they decided Uber were not fit to operate?

Lives have been shattered which have devastated families across the capital. The TfL commission Mike Brown  and his directors at LTPH are responsible for these ruined lives.... they have blood on their hands for not protecting the public. 

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Treat yourself to Texas: Flights to Austin from £297 return

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Vegas baby! 5nt Hard Rock Hotel stay from £476pp - incl. Virgin flights & bags (2019 dates)

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Tantalising Thailand: Flights to Bangkok or Phuket from just £324rtn - incl. luggage & meals

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5* Family Dubai escape: 5nts from £629pp incl. flights, hotel on the palm, meals & waterpark

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Uber agree $19.8 million dollar settlement with FTC

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Uber have agreed to a settlement, totalling just over $19.8 million, after the Federal Trade Commission sued the minicab giant.The case, which was brought by the FTC in the U.S, centred around misleading claims by Uber as to how much Uber drivers could earn as well as misleading lease term agreements.Uber had allegedly claimed, according to the FTC, that the average annual income for UberX drivers in New York was $90,000, whilst in San Fransisco it was $74,000.The FTC argued that these claims were inflated quite significantly, by as much as $20,000 to $30,000 per annum. Therefore, the average income was in fact around $61,000 in New York and $53,000 in San Francisco, furthermore under Less 10% of UberX drivers were able to earn the amounts Uber claimed as its average.Uber's vehicle solutions program also came under scrutiny. The scheme which assists drivers buying and leasing vehicles, had claimed it could get drivers into purchase agreements for as little as $560 per month and could arrange a vehicle lease for $476 per month. The reality was somewhat different, drivers had to pay $640 monthly for a leased vehicle and $800 monthly to purchase a car through the scheme, according to the FTC.A settlement was agreed between the FTC and Uber, whereby Uber agreed to stop making unsubstantiated claims surrounding a drivers earning potential as well as the cost of its finance deals.It was also agreed that Uber would compensate just under 89,000 drivers with a share of almost $20 million, amounting to around $223 per driver.There are concerns from some quarters that the $223 figure will be nowhere near enough to compensate drivers, who have been struggling to cope with the debt attributed to the cost of the vehicles.The refunds will start to be issued this week and will cover drivers working in 2014 and 2015, in cities where Uber recruited heavily.

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Millionaire company director pulls shotgun on Taxi driver and threatens to kill him over fare dispute

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A millionaire who took a taxi journey home to his large country home pointed a shotgun at his driver and threatened to kill him during a row over a £40 fare. Company director James Willmott, 37, in alleged to of loaded and cocked the black hunting shotgun in the direction of taxi driver Hanifur Rehman after a disagreement erupted over the cost of the taxi journey. A court heard Mr Rehman feared for his life and thought he was about to be executed on the accused driveway. Willmott and his five friends were picked up by Rehman in Cardiff's city centre and headed to the millionaires home. On route, the six men decided to detour to a McDonalds drive-thru to pick up a late night feast. Because of the detour, the cost of the journey went from £40 to £60 which Willmott was not happy about. A court heard that Willmott refused to pay the inflated fare of £60 and warned Rehman that if he doesn't leave his premises he will go inside a get one of his guns. Rehman was not sure if it was an empty threat but soon realised the reality of the situation when Willmott returned carrying the gun. Rehman told the court that at this moment he thought he was "finished". Mr Rehman also told the court that Willmott lifted the gun and loaded it three times, making a clicking sound. One of Willmott's friends managed to pull him back before he eventually paid the £40 fare. Rehman called 999 and informed them of the situation, stating that there was a gun at the location. Armed police moved in on the millionaires countryside home at Warren Farm in Pendoylan, South Wales and arrested Willmott, handcuffing him and escorting him from the premises.

According to a report in the Sun, police found "several" different weapons at the property, with some stored in a safe gun cabinet. Willmott denied possession of a shotgun with intent to cause fear of violence. The trial continues.

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Cheap 4* Turkey holiday in September from £249pp - incl. flights & 7nts aparthotel stay

Pirates, if you haven't yet booked your summer holiday, we've uncovered a gem of a late season bargain to Turkey this September when you'll still get the sun, without the peak price tag. You'll pay as little as £249 per person, based on 2 sharing for flights and 7 nights self-catering in a lovely 4*… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Plastic fantastic! London taxis embrace rise in cashless payments

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With the rise of contactless credit cards and alternative payment methods such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, we are increasingly moving towards a cashless society.

According to banking trade body UK Finance, debit card payments have now overtaken cash use for the first time. A total of 13.2 billion debit card payments were made last year, a rise of 14 per cent on the previous year. Meanwhile, the frequency of contactless payments almost doubled in a year to 5.6 billion last year. This was most commonly in supermarkets, but card suppliers say that public transport and car parking have also become regular places for people to use contactless – in London more than half of all pay as you go travel on the TfL network is now made using contactless.

This growth in card use is why the TfL Board agreed that taxi passengers should be able to pay by card, including contactless, back in 2016. From 31 October 2016, all licensed taxi drivers have been required to accept credit and debit card payments.

The easy way to pay

Lee Sheppard is the director of London Taxi PR, set up to promote the trade in the Capital, and states: ‘The advent and move to a more cashless society can only be good for the licensed trade. Paying by card allows us to be a more efficient and appealing service, whether it is for the frequent business user, the short hop journeyer or the user in an emergency when no cash is available. Being able to hail, tap and pay by card provides our customers with peace of mind and an ease-of-use service.

‘The London taxi trade has always been seen as innovators of technology and by continuing to evolve and provide our customers with the fullest of payment options, we are demonstrating we recognise that without these alternatives, we as a service and trade will not survive.’

Every taxi driver must accept card and contactless payments and provide printed receipts for those payments if asked to by the customer. All taxis must have a fully working TfL-approved fixed card payment device fitted in the passenger compartment. Taxis not meeting this requirement are issued with an unfit notice, which remains in place until the credit card reader has been fitted or repaired and the vehicle is presented for inspection.

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TfL Fail To Attend KoL Seminar At City Hall....by Grant Davis

La Dolce Vita: 6nt trip to Venice, Florence & Rome from £169pp - incl. hotels, flights & trains

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Task force needed to prepare British cities for autonomous vehicles, says consortium

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A new City Mobility Task Force including local and national government as well as industry representatives should be convened to develop strategic policy, set goals and provide roadmaps for a new generation of transport services, according to the MERGE Greenwich consortium. The remit of the proposed task force would include recommending changes to street infrastructure and taking steps to build public confidence in both autonomous vehicles and ride-sharing, and seek to gain the maximum social benefits for cities and their citizens. This is one of the key recommendations in a report published today by the MERGE Greenwich project, led by Addison Lee Group, on the outcome of a year-long simulation on the introduction of autonomous vehicle ride-sharing services which would make it quicker and simpler for people to travel between their homes and public transport hubs. AV ride-sharing would allow people to summon and share on-demand vehicles to take them short distances for a set fare. The concept is one of many ways in which new mobility technology could be exploited to address congestion, air quality and convenience in Britain’s cities. Using the Royal Borough of Greenwich as a modelling ground, the consortium finds that by 2025, ride-sharing could account for more than one in four trips. It concludes that AV ride-sharing can cut average journey times to public transport hubs by up to 43%, saving an average commuter as much as 3.5 days in travel time per year. For areas with particularly poor connectivity, the simulated time saving was as high as 74%. Andy Boland, Chief Executive Officer of Addison Lee Group, said: “The MERGE Greenwich consortium report shows all manner of positive changes that autonomous vehicle ride-sharing could bring – reduced journey times, better access to transport and less need for parking spaces. To make this a reality, it needs a task force, harnessing the expertise of the public and private sectors, to facilitate the planning and co-ordination essential to its implementation.” He added: “Government has shown leadership through the Future of Mobility Grand Challenge and we urge them to convene decision makers to ensure that Autonomous Vehicle ride-sharing plays a part in the urban transport mix to give customers choice and to help build the greener, cleaner and more efficient cities of the future.” The report shows that AV ride-sharing would free up parking space, with the number of car journeys requiring parking dropping by up to 38%. This could free up space equivalent to 61 tennis courts in Greenwich alone, allowing many car parks and street parking spaces to be repurposed. However, the research also highlights the complexities in introducing a new AV ride-share service at scale. Whilst overall the service can deliver benefits, during the period in which the introduction of the service takes place alongside all of today’s existing traffic, the service could have some short term unintended consequences. For example, significant preparatory work needs to be done to lay the ground for successful introduction of AV ride-sharing services. Challenges facing the adoption of AV ride-sharing include nervousness among the public about sharing a vehicle, with 45% saying they are willing to do so. Some services – particularly those helping passengers with accessibility challenges – would need to be staffed by a steward, meaning a person is always onboard the vehicle. The cost of first-generation vehicles could also be a barrier to commercial viability initially. Current cost estimates for autonomous electric vehicles are significantly higher than today’s conventional fleet vehicle. The consortium also recommends that pricing and incentives are pitched in such a way as to encourage travelers to switch to AV ride-sharing from private vehicles, rather than from buses, to ensure that the introduction of new services reduces traffic congestion. Recommended pricing would be pitched significantly above the cost of a bus ticket. The MERGE Greenwich consortium was setup and led by Addison Lee Group and involves mobility experts Ford, TRL, Transport Systems Catapult, DG Cities and Immense Simulations. It is backed by funding from Innovate UK – an agency sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

July 17, 2018 at 09:35AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Lakeside Living: Discover gorgeous Ohrid from £67pp - incl. 3nts hotel & flights

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Minicab driver killed 89 year old man while driving under the influence of Cocaine

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A private hire driver from Liverpool who knocked over and killed an 89 year-old man while three times over the drug drive limit is due to be sentenced on Friday July 20. Paul Morrison, 43, who was high on cocaine at the time, drove into 89 year-old Andrew Oakden as he crossed a road in Gateacre on Saturday, February 18 last year. Mr Oakden was rushed to Aintree Hospital where he died the following day. Morrison was arrested and charged with causing death by careless driving. Morrison, who was driving his Ford C-Max, denied driving without due care and attention, but changed his plea once realising the jury would hear he had taken cocaine and also failed a police field impairment test. Defending Mr Morrison, David Birrell said: "It's a serious matter and there can only be one sentence, but I do submit the court would be assisted by a probation report"

(Image: Aintree University Hospital)

A report in the Liverpool Echo, confirmed; Judge Alan Conrad agreed to a pre-sentence report and adjourned Morrison's sentencing until Friday 20 July. Conrad confirmed that a prison sentence of some length is "virtually inevitable", adding that the maximum sentence the court can impose for causing death by dangerous driving is five years , but the maximum for causing death by dangerous driving or careless driving under the influence of drink or drugs is 14 years. In a statement by Oakden's family following his death, they said:

"Andrew Oakden, known to us as Andy, was a beloved brother and uncle and until her death, a loving husband to Kathleen.“

Andy had a passion for playing bowls and line dancing, he loved animals including his two ginger cats, day trips, and holidays with his late wife.“He was taken from us in tragic circumstances and will be sadly missed by us all and all that knew him. God bless.”

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British Airways flights to Istanbul from £95 return: Lots of dates available

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Sherbet London relaunches with new taxi “industry disruptor” vision

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“London’s taxi drivers are the best in the world. No question. It is about time that a real taxi company is the industry disruptor for once. That’s what we want to achieve with our new vision.” says Sherbet London CEO Asher Moses.

This month, Asher and his Dalston based team boldly relaunch the company with a new vision. Sherbet will combine three sections of its business to create a unique and modern service never seen by the trade before ; Ride, drive and advertise with Sherbet.

“It’s time for a radical change. We’re at a crucial turning point for the London Taxi industry. There are challenges, of course; there is also massive potential. Through technology and customer service excellence, I believe that there is a clear and certain future for expert, premium professional London Taxi drivers, driving sustainable, energy-efficient cleaner vehicles. That was always the vision when we created Sherbet London. The ‘relaunch’ is the next stage in that evolution.”, said Asher.

The new vision, powered by investment and belief in electric power train technology, focuses on delivering technological and service excellence to Sherbet London’s drivers and customers.

“This new evolution is all about the future. The future of the industry, our children’s future, the environment. So, we want drivers who either own or want to drive electric or newer vehicles. We want to establish a network that truly supports professional drivers who understand that technology and customer service excellence is the key to beating the competition. Our aim is to create a community that can truly compete with the likes of the premium private hire fleets, as well as challenger app-based brands. We all know the threats to the trade; over the coming weeks we’ll be unveiling our plans to strengthen and protect the future for the licensed taxi sector.”, Asher added.

Sherbet London operates one of London’s largest managed, media taxi fleets, delivering passengers and advertising messages safely and efficiently across the city, using high-technology and metrics to deliver customer satisfaction. The team provides impactful taxi media advertising with its fleet of more than 500+ high-specification vehicles, working with high-profile fashion and leisure clients including PrettyLittleThing, Boohoo, TopShop, TopMan, Embassy Gardens, VisitQatar and 888Casino.

Asher stated, “We will set out to provide a clear vision for all key stakeholders. Our premium drivers will sign up to a charter, that will cover vehicle checks, personal safety, customer service and even social media. We are ambitious for Sherbet London and for the wider industry. We are really excited to be launching this vision to the trade. It’s all about positive change for me.”

July 16, 2018 at 08:42PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Straight to Hollywood: Direct Los Angeles flights from £279rtn - incl. bags & meals

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