Taxi Driver Online

Convicted taxi driver backs change in law

A taxi driver who was convicted for working in the borough without a Dacorum licence has vowed to appeal the decision to the High Court and clear his name.

Omar Ashfaq, who was given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £5,000 in costs, said that the law should be changed so that taxi drivers have universal licences to work anywhere in the UK.

The former business owner was running three cars in Dacorum but only had a licence to work in the Three Rivers area.

Local taxi drivers were enraged at having fares taken away and protested against Mr Ashfaq, and other drivers working illegally, until Dacorum Borough Council took Mr Ashfaq to court.

He said: “This has been ongoing for two years and I feel like I have been bullied by the other taxi companies and the local council because I was the only company taken to court.

“I will pursue the High Court appeal to clear my name.”

His taxi firm is now under new management after being taken over by business partners Mohammed Ahmed and Az Khan.

Mr Ahmed said: “The company is still going and is operating with hackney carriage licences issued by Dacorum Borough Council.”

The Law Commission has already held a consultation on the reformation of taxi and private hire laws.

One of the proposed changes is for taxi operators not to be restricted to any particular locality and to be able to use drivers licenced by different authorities.

The consultation ended in August and the commission plans to publish a final report with a draft bill next November.

Parliament will then decide whether to change the law.

source: http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/news/local/ ... -1-4528781

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

So lets face facts here, this tw@t was perfectly well aware he was breaking the law, he even knew the law commission were looking into it.

Lets correct the article;

Convicted illegal minicab driver backs change in law

A minicab driver who was convicted for working in the borough without a Dacorum licence has vowed to appeal the decision to the High Court and clear his name.

Omar Ashfaq, who was given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £5,000 in costs, said that the law should be changed so that minicab drivers have universal licences to work anywhere in the UK.

The former business owner was running three cars in Dacorum but only had a licence to work in the Three Rivers area.

Local taxi drivers were enraged at having fares taken away and protested against Mr Ashfaq, and other drivers working illegally, until Dacorum Borough Council took Mr Ashfaq to court.

He said: “This has been ongoing for two years and I feel like I have been bullied by the other taxi companies and the local council because I was the only company taken to court.

“I will pursue the High Court appeal to clear my name.”

His minicab firm is now under new management after being taken over by business partners Mohammed Ahmed and Az Khan.

Mr Ahmed said: “The company is still going and is operating with hackney carriage licences issued by Dacorum Borough Council.”

The Law Commission has already held a consultation on the reformation of taxi and private hire laws.

One of the proposed changes is for taxi operators not to be restricted to any particular locality and to be able to use drivers licenced by different authorities.

The consultation ended in August and the commission plans to publish a final report with a draft bill next November.

Parliament will then decide whether to change the law.

source: http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I'm still none the wiser exactly what has the illegal activities are, in view that it was dealing with taxis not PH.

Unless they were operating PH, but now are operating hackneys as this comment appears to say.

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IDFIMH

http://www.threerivers.gov.uk/Default.a ... Licensing1

HC driver register

54 OMAR ASHFAQ Expiry date 13/08/2013

PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING A HACKNEY CARRIAGE DRIVER’S LICENCE

• (1) A Hackney Carriage driver’s licence will only be granted to persons who are over 21 years of age and with a minimum of 2 years driving experience. Any driver over 70 years of age will require an annual medical.
  
  
• (2) An applicant must have good knowledge of the Three Rivers District and the environs. This will be the subject of a Knowledge Test, taken at Three Rivers House, on either: - the Second Friday of the month in the afternoon, or the last Tuesday, in the morning. Please allow 1 hour for the test, which can be arranged by appointment. There will be 20 questions, divided into the following categories: - 10 knowledge, 5 Highway Code and 5 from the Private Hire Drivers Conditions. Maps of the District can be collected from reception in Three Rivers House. You may take an A-Z or other similar reference book into the test with you, all books must be declared to the Invigilator of the Test before the start.
  
  
• (3) When submitting an application for a licence to drive Hackney Carriage vehicles you are required to declare any convictions or cautions you may consider spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The information you give will be treated in confidence and will only be taken into account in relation to your application.
  
  
• (4) You should be aware that the licensing authority is empowered in law to check with the Criminal Record Bureau (CRB), for the existence and content of any criminal record held in the name of the applicant. Information received from the CRB will be kept in strict confidence whilst the application is processed and will be retained for no longer than is necessary, and in any case no linger than 6 months unless there are exceptional circumstances.
  
  
• (5) The disclosure of a criminal record or other information will not debar you from gaining a licence unless the authority considers that the conviction renders you unsuitable. In making this decision the authority will consider the nature of the offence, how long ago and what age you were when it was committed and any other factors which may be relevant. If you would like to discuss what effect a conviction might have on your application, you may telephone the Licensing Officer in confidence for advice.
  
  
• (6) The applicant is required to complete an application form, obtain there on a certificate of character signed by two householders, who are not near relatives of the applicant and are not employed in local Hackney Carriage or Private Hire trades and who have known the applicant personally for the past three years. Two passport photographs must accompany the application.
  
  
• (7) The applicant must take a medical form to his doctor for a medical examination as to the fitness of the applicant to be a Hackney Carriage driver. Unless exempt on medical grounds (written proof required) a licensed driver is prohibited from refusing carriage of any assistance/guide dogs. Any fees, in connection with the medical examination, will be paid by the applicant. The doctor will hand it back to the applicant after completion.
  
  
• (8) The application form along with the completed medical form, Criminal Record Disclosure application for, two passport sized photographs, photocopy of DVLA Drivers Licence and payment are to be returned personally and by appointment, to the Licensing Officer at Three Rivers House, Northway, Rickmansworth, Herts. WD3 1RL. The applicant must also bring along at least two form of identity, preferably a Current Passport and DVLA Driving Licence. Once all enquiries are complete, if successful, the applicant will be advised of a date and time for him/her to attend the Council Offices, to collect their Hackney Carriage Licence and Badge.
  
  
• (9) The successful applicant will be issued with a driver’s Identity Card (Badge). This Identity Card remains the property of the Council and must be returned to the Council on demand or when the applicant decides that he no longer wishes to carry on as a Hackney Carriage driver. Failure TO Do So Constitutes An Offence. If a badge is lost or damaged it must be reported immediately to the Licensing Officer at the Council offices and a replacement badge obtained for which a charge will be made.
  FEES ARE SUBJECT TP ALTERATION

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

100% illegal.

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IDFIMH

Please tell me why this is illegal? In our area drivers over 65 have to have annual medical examinations and I wouuld love to be able to challenge it.

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Grandad,

It's not the last but the first bit.

The acts say a driver must have driven on a full DVLA license for 12 months. It says nothing about a starting age, and this mob are saying the driver must be driving on a DVLA license for 24 months.

Methinks these councils need to understand statute takes precedence over by-laws.

Thank f*** for the LC revamping the lot.

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IDFIMH

I've a feeling it will do a lot more than just revamping......

Damn!

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Grandad,