[url]http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/drugs-cherry-picking-driving-without-13835996]that city which is allegedly a low crime one
[/url]Drugs, cherry picking and driving without insurance - hundreds snared in taxi driver crackdown
Hundreds of taxi and private hire drivers have been snared for offences including drugs, driving without insurance and “cherry picking” passengers.
A major clampdown by Liverpool City Council has seen scores of cautions and defect notices handed to private hire and hackney drivers in a bid to improve standards
Two drivers have been taken off the road altogether for drug offences.
The action follows an ECHO investigation earlier this year which exposed a huge range of offences being committed by drivers in the city centre.
We went out with hackney drivers and private hire drivers and found issues relating to both sides of the trade.
Working with Merseyside Police, council officers have identified hundreds of drivers from Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley and Wirral who were committing a wide range of offences while working in the city.
The most serious cases have seen two drivers – one private hire and one hackney - having their licences revoked for drug related offences.
At Liverpool Magistrates Court this week, 14 drivers were fined a total of £4,655 - for offences including tyre defects, trying to pick up passengers who had not booked and driving without insurance.
In addition, 118 vehicle defect notices and 57 cautions have been issued for offences such as cherry picking - where cab drivers opt not to pick people up despite having an empty vehicle and their light on - as well as having an illegal tyres and not having their plates firmly fixed on – while a further seven vehicles were ordered off the road immediately.
And 160 fixed penalty notices have been issued to the drivers of private cars who parked illegally on taxi stands, taking up space meant for hackneys.
Councillor Christine Banks, chair of the council’s licensing committee, said: “We want to make sure that our taxi industry is fair, and we are determined to crack down on those drivers who are flouting the rules.
“Our aim is to make the playing field for all drivers as level as it can be.
“Unfortunately, there are a very small minority who breach regulations, and we are committed to taking action and in doing so, send a clear message out that it is not acceptable.
and how do you excuse that TREVOR !!!!!!