Taxi Driver Online

Taxi driver who continued to trade without a licence fined

A taxi driver has had to pay more than £2,000 in fines and costs for breaking licensing rules. Arshad Khaliq, 46 years old, of Martin Road, Slough had to cough up after he admitted plying for hire and driving an unlicensed vehicle while working in Newbury, Berkshire.

Mr Khaliq was caught working in a taxi rank in Newbury while driving a vehicle for which the licence had expired. Despite no longer having a valid licence, Mr Khaliq continued to use the vehicle, and was caught doing so on three separate occasions between the end of July and beginning of August 2017. Mr Khaliq also failed to display correct livery for the vehicle.

He was found to have broken the laws regulating taxi drivers following an investigation by the Public Protection Partnership (PPP). He was sentenced for his crimes at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Friday, April 13.

At the hearing, Mr Khaliq admitted to three offences of plying for hire and driving or standing on a taxi rank with an unlicensed vehicle. Mr Khaliq received a fine of £1,125 and was ordered to pay a contribution towards the council’s costs of £1,500 as well as a victim surcharge of £37 amounting to a total of £2,662.

Steve Loudoun, chairman of the Public Protection Management Board, said: "The convictions followed an investigation conducted by the PPP Licensing and Response teams, Joint Case Management Unit and West Berkshire Legal Services. "We believe this prosecution sends a strong message to would-be perpetrators.

"The PPP will always investigate matters of this nature and where appropriate legal action will follow. "Any Bracknell, West Berkshire or Wokingham resident that has concerns about activity of this nature, or any other licensing or public protection matter, should contact the service on 01635 519 184 or via email on licensing@westberks.gov.uk."

The PPP is a multi-council organisation run by Bracknell Forest Council, West Berkshire Council and Wokingham Borough Council. It delivers environmental health, licensing and trading standards functions, and often deals with prosecuting fly tippers and taxi drivers who break regulations.

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IDFIMH

didn't this story appear a couple of weeks ago ? on here viewtopic.php?f=2&t=32613 ?

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Earlier piece was about using an unlicensed vehicle on an expired plate, and court hearing did take place at Reading Magistrates.

However, the earlier article was about an incident in Reading using a PHV on expired TfL plates on a school run, while this one seems to be about an HC plying for hire in Newbury on expired local plates.