Fine for minicab driver caught illegally plying for trade in StoneA STOKE minicab driver caught plying for trade illegally in Stone has been hit with a fine.
Usman Hussain, 23, was caught out as part of a crackdown on rogue minicab drivers by Staffordshire Police and Stafford Borough Council.
Stafford magistrates heard that Hussain, of Argyll Road, Longton, agreed to take a plain clothed policewoman and council officer to a local pub when they approached his Lucky Seven private hire vehicle in Stone’s Station Road. When the vehicle was stopped by a marked police car, Hussain told his passengers to “tell them you booked me from Granvilles”.
Julie Simpson, prosecuting for Stafford Borough Council, said “He also spoke on his radio saying “book me a job from Granvilles.” He then said again to his passengers “Tell them you booked me.”
Hussain admitted plying for hire in an unlicensed vehicle in August. He was given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay a total of £236.10 costs by Stafford magistrates.
It is illegal for private hire drivers to collect customers in the street or from a minicab rank. They can only pick up passengers that have booked in advance.
Tac Hussain, defending, said: “This is an expensive fare for Mr Hussain. He accepts he was foolish but did not go deliberately plying for hire.
“His documents and vehicle were all in order and he was not initiating or actively seeking a fare.”
Hussain is now likely to go before a licensing panel at Stoke on Trent City Council, to see if he is a fit and proper person to hold a private hire licence, the court was told.
Speaking after the hearing Councillor Frank Finlay, cabinet member for environment and health, said: “We are determined to clamp down on private hire drivers who stick two fingers up at the law by coming into the borough and picking up residents with no prior booking.
“One of our top priorities is the health and wellbeing of our community and this operation aims to protect the public as they are at risk, because these vehicles will not be insured if they are picking up passengers in this way.”
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