Trafford minicab driver caught in Manchester United sting operationA MINICAB driver who was caught out in an undercover sting operation outside Old Trafford has been prosecuted.
Dennis Bryan, 55, of Dean Court, Old Trafford, was one of a number of private hire drivers caught out by checks conducted at the end of Manchester United's game against Crystal Palace on November 8, 2014.
While parked up on Chester Road, Bryan was approached by two council officers posing as potential customers.
They confirmed with him that he was free to take them to Piccadilly Station for £15.
At Trafford Magistrates on July 3, Bryan was found guilty of picking up a fare without a booking, driving without insurance and failing to wear his driver’s badge.
He was fined a total of £300, given six penalty points on his licence, ordered to pay costs of £553 and a victim surcharge of £20.
A council spokesman said: “The operation was part of an on-going series, mounted in response to reports to the council of widespread problems with illegal plying around the ground on match days.”
Executive member for environment and operations, Councillor John Reilly, added: “Trafford Council will not tolerate private hire drivers who flout what are, after all, important legal controls.
“We hope that this has been a lesson learned for Mr Bryan and one which other drivers will heed.
“The law is clear, within Trafford only our Licensed Hackney Carriages can be hailed on the street without a booking.
“By making illegal pick-ups in this way, private hire drivers invalidate their insurance, put customers at risk and also take business away from those operating within the law.”
source:
http://www.messengernewspapers.co.uk/ne ... operation/
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