Taxi Driver Online

Rogue private hire vehicles snared in crackdown in Cambridge - to the delight of city taxi drivers


Rogue private hire drivers illegally plying for trade in Cambridge have been hauled up in front of the courts.

A crackdown snared a total of eight drivers who have now been convicted of unlawfully picking up passengers in the city.

The convictions come following a joint investigation by Cambridge City Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council and police.

A spokesman for Cambridge Hackney Carriage Association said: “These convictions are very welcome and makes it that bit safer for the travelling public. This has been going on for years under the noses of police and is our biggest problem in the trade as these cars are easily mistaken for taxis as they have company logos on them and line the streets.”

Raja Ahmed, John Howell, Paul Cooper and Ali Uddin all pleaded guilty to plying for hire without a license and using a vehicle uninsured against third party risks.

They were fined £300 with costs of £380, six penalty points and a £30 victim surcharge. Savinder Chohan, who was convicted in his absence of the same offences, was fined £450 with costs of £380 and a £45 victim surcharge at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court on April 17.

On May 15, Khalique Miah and Hassan Butt both pleaded guilty to the offences and were fined £535 with costs of £380, eight penalty points and a £40 victim surcharge.

Valentin Tsankov pleaded guilty to the same offences and fined £400 with £380 costs, eight penalty points and a £30 victim surcharge.

Five further cases will be heard on May 29. There will also be a review of the private hire driver licenses of those convicted.

Hackney Carriages are licensed by the city council to ply for hire within the city and can be flagged down or can pick up a taxi from any rank in Cambridge. Private hire vehicles cannot pick up passengers on the street.

A council spokesman said: “The use of vehicles to illegally ply for hire is a matter the council takes extremely seriously.”

The crackdown was in November 15-16 last year and the drivers are licensed with the city council and South Cambridgeshire District Council.


Read more: http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Cambrid ... z32Wi2T1e9

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

I hope grandad is taking note of this story as it seems at odds with his councils approach

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

Can he reach us in Spain?

I'm not in Spain!!!
The situation here is not quite the same. We have a vehicle that just doesn't have the plate on the back. It is licensed. The inspector from County Hall stopped him a couple of days ago and asked him why he was not displaying the plate. His reply was that the vehicle is waiting to be resprayed on the back where his Melton plate used to be before he puts the plate on. The Melton plate was removed on March 5th. I think the inspector will be back after half term and if the plate isn't on the vehicle something may get done.

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Grandad,

As Kylie sang, you could be so lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky!

I may send a link of this to my local LO in the hope he'll do something about those who tout in New Romney every Friday.

Im in Fuertaventura

That's a blinding job. I bet you must have done it for at least a tenner.

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IDFIMH

With the usual £1 discount.