Taxi Driver Online

I may have done this previously but here goes.
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Evening Gazette

August 1, 2006, Tuesday

HEADLINE: Agencies pick up pirate taxi driver

A pirate taxi driver is off the road after a swoop by licensing officers and police in Middlesbrough.

The council officers and police were joined by officers from VOSA - Vehicle Operator Services Agency - and Customs and Excise for the Saturday night exercise in which around 50 vehicles were checked. [/b]

VOSA issued 16 prohibition notices for defects including defective tyres, headlights and brakes. The notices require faults to be rectified before vehicles can be used again as a taxi. In addition, council officers posed as members of the public to catch out illegal or uninsured taxi drivers. They found one unlicensed hackney carriage driver, one private hire driver illegally plying for hire and two pirate taxi drivers using vehicles without a licence or insurance. As one of these unlicensed drivers was driving with a provisional driving licence, the police confiscated his vehicle.

All now face prosecution.

Barry Coppinger, Middlesbrough Council's Executive councillor for community safety, said: "This is an example of agencies coming together to help ensure the safety of the travelling public and ensure the taxi trade in Middlesbrough maintains high standards. "It sends out a strong warning we are vigilant and are determined to stop pirate operators making a nuisance of themselves and putting members of the public at risk."
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