Taxi Driver Online

Bit like yesterday's case with the PHD who hadn't renewed his badge and was working for several months.

Not clear how long this former HCD was working for, but the sting took place last year and he was suspended in 2015 by the looks of it.

Unlicensed taxi driver caught picking up customer in sting operation

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/tees ... g-16173117

The driver is now facing a court fine after working for a taxi company despite his licence being previously suspended

A taxi driver who picked up a customer from a pub despite not having a licence has been ordered to pay more than £700.

Colin Eltringham was caught breaking the law after council staff received a tip-off that an unlicensed driver was being used by taxi firm.

Newton Aycliffe magistrates were told how the 53-year-old failed a test purchase exercise in August last year when he picked up consumer protection officers posing as members of the public from outside of a pub in Sedgefield.

The Durham County Council officers had made the booking with Sedgefield Taxis after receiving information that an unlicensed driver was driving one of the company’s vehicles.

Magistrates were told how Eltringham was the owner of the vehicle and had previously held a hackney carriage licence. However, he failed to renew the licence after it was suspended in 2015.

He was charged with driving a taxi without a hackney carriage licence following an investigation by Durham County Council’s licensing team.

Eltringham, of Front Street, Fishburn, did not attend the hearing but pleaded guilty to the offence by letter. He also admitted a further charge of driving a vehicle without insurance.

He was fined £440 and ordered to pay £253.75 in costs and a victim surcharge of £44. His driving licence was endorsed with six penalty points.

Owen Cleugh, consumer protection manager at Durham County Council, said: “Taxi and private hire licensing is in place to protect the public and it’s our job to ensure these laws are followed.

"This prosecution proves we will take action against those who flout the law and that the consequences of doing so can be serious, both financially and reputationally.”

Wonder how the test purchasers managed to ensure that that particular driver rolled up for the booking?

Anyway, brings to mind that discussion a few months ago about a PH operator's obligations regarding HCs working form them, and how it may differ from their obligations regarding PHVs.

The firm here may have been an unlicensed HC-only despatch operation, in which case even if they were aware they were using an unlicensed driver there's no action the authorities can take against them.

Except perhaps if the proprietors of the despatch operation also have HC plates and badges, in which case using an unlicensed driver could impact on their fit and proper status??

This is one of the reasons that hackneys should have similar booking office requirements to that which PH have.

That said even if the vehicle/driver was hackney, IMO the booking office still have a duty of care in respect of the customer that has booked through them. Even if they do pass that duty of care onto the hackney owner/driver.

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