Boss backs taxi ’snubs’ over safety

GEELONG Taxi Network will stand behind its drivers refusing to service Corio and Norlane following a spate of rock-throwing incidents, according to its boss.
Peter Valentine said pedestrians throwing rocks at taxis had “escalated to the point of being ridiculous” in six months, with half a dozen arrests between September and November and 56 recent incidents without arrest.
“If we’ve got a customer in that area the decision remains with the driver whether they feel safe driving into that area. They may elect to pass it back to the network.
“How on Earth could you penalise someone for not driving into an area that’s so heavily known as dangerous?”
A male passenger was this week hospitalised after a rock thrown at a taxi hit him in the head.
Police believed a group of five to six Caucasian teenagers, mostly dressed in black shorts and white singlets, had been in the area at the time throwing rocks and eggs at cars.
Mr Valentine said some taxi drivers would choose to take different routes into Geelong’s northern suburbs because most incidents occurred along the Princes Hwy.
“It has occurred that the driver waiting at a taxi rank in the city will say ‘Sorry, I’m not going to that area’ or they may take a longer route.
“But there was an instance where a driver was called into the area then pelted. In another situation recently these people wheeled a bin into the road to slow the cab down then pelted it with rocks.”
Mr Valentine urged Geelong magistrates to “get a little bit more serious” in punishing offenders against taxis.
Northern Futures Geelong executive officer Lou Brazier said taxis must continue servicing the area.
“To punish the whole community for the actions of a few is a gross mistake. I don’t think taxi drivers saying we won’t service any of the area resolves the issues.
“There are a lot of elderly people and people with disabilities who use taxis doing absolutely nothing wrong.”
Member for Lara John Eren blamed a lack of staff at Corio Police Station for the “law and order issue”.
“It’s important State Government take ownership of this for the sake of taxi drivers, passengers and the good majority of northern suburbs residents who deserve a taxi service like anyone else.”