Taxi Driver Online

Firm ran unlicensed cab

The owner of a well-known Norfolk taxi company appeared in court yesterday after he was caught in a council sting operation driving an unlicensed cab.

Hazem Khalil was trapped by West Norfolk council inspectors after he offered to drive them to King's Lynn rail station, despite knowing the car had not been approved for commercial use.

The council staff had spotted his advert for "executive" cabs in a newspaper advert and discovered it was unlicensed.

Khalil, who owns one of the largest cab firms in West Norfolk, Haz's Cars, is a local business awards winner and a former chairman of the area's Hackney Carriage Association.

Teresa Campion, prosecuting, said he had been approached by council staff about the silver Mercedes before the sting operation.

He told them it was being used for a private contract with a company in Lynn, which exempted him from licensing it.

But Lynn magistrates heard he then offered to collect a council employee from a hotel in the town to go to the train station.

Khalil, who represented himself in court after pleading guilty to using a vehicle as a taxi without a private hire licence, said he had never placed any passengers in danger and stressed his business was fully insured.

"I have been running the business for nearly six years," he said.

"I am the biggest operator in Lynn, we won the business award, we have Investor in People, and we have a very high standard for operations.

"I very, very much regret the matter has come before court.

"However, I would stress the vehicle was in extremely good condition and at no time did we jeopardise the safety of any members of the public."

Khalil was ordered to pay £865 in costs and a £250 fine by magistrates.

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

So now insurance companies insure folk for illegal work.

I also wonder how many times this mush has belly-ached about PH picking up illegally.

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IDFIMH

The vehicle in question couldn't have been covered for private hire work because it wasn't licensed as a private hire vehicle so it begs the question why wasn't the the driver charged with driving without private hire insurance?

Regards

JD