Illegal pickup results in fine for cab driver An uninsured minicab driver has picked up a fine for illegally plying his trade in Cambridge after a crackdown.
Asaddar Ali, a private hire driver, was caught in a joint operation by Cambridge City Council and Cambridgeshire police.
Ali, of Bullen Close, Cambridge, has been convicted of unlawfully picking up passengers following a joint investigation.
The 50-year-old was found guilty by city magistrates this week of plying for hire for which he was fined £110.
Ali was also found guilty of using a vehicle uninsured against third party risks for which he was fined £150 and issued six penalty points.
He had already had six points on his driver’s licence and was disqualified from driving immediately for six months.
Ali is the last of the nine drivers who have been convicted of unlawfully picking up passengers on the evening of February 24-25 in the operation.
Cllr Colin Rosenstiel, the council’s licensing committee chairman, said: “We will always try to educate the taxi trade and provide guidance on appropriate practices, but where this approach fails we have no alternative but to deal firmly with breaches.
“The licensing team from Cambridge City Council has a commitment to ensure that the trade keeps within the law and ensure public safety.”
Only hackney carriages are licensed by Cambridge City Council to ply for hire in the city.
Private hire vehicles are only licensed to take pre-booked fares and cannot be hailed to pick up passengers on the street.
Cllr Jeremy Benstead, vice chairman of licensing, said: “Cambridge City Council has a commitment to ensuring that licensed activities stay within the law. Illegal use of private hire vehicles can put the public at risk, and won’t be tolerated.
“The vast majority of private hire drivers operate within the law, but the city council will ensure that those who choose to operate outside of it are dealt with firmly.”
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/News/Il ... 112012.htm
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