Quote:
A man who ran an illegal taxi business for people at London Luton Airport has been fined and banned from driving.
Yasir Masood, 39, of Spencer Road, Luton, pleaded guilty at Luton Magistrates’ Court last week to touting for hire by a private hire vehicle in February
.Yasir Masood, 39, of Spencer Road, Luton, pleaded guilty at Luton Magistrates’ Court last week to touting for hire by a private hire vehicle in February
Wouldn't be surprised if this wasn't actually touting at all (ie actively approaching customers) or just plying for hire (ie waiting passively, but where the driver shouldn't be sitting) because the word 'touting' often used in relation to plying for hire when strictly speaking it shouldn't.
For a start, it says that he was 'touting for hire by a private hire vehicle', which doesn't sound right. You could reasonably say a vehicle is plying for hire, but not that a vehicle is touting - only a person can tout.
Then there's the stuff about 'running an illegal taxi business', which could mean anything, but suggests to me that the vehicle is unlicensed, whereas using the term 'private hire vehicle' suggests it is plated (and that's even ignoring the usual use of the word 'taxi').
On the other hand, the police sergeant does say that it's 'unfair on legitimate taxi drivers who have gone through the proper processes of getting a licence', which implies that the vehicle wasn't plated. Or that may be something to do with the HC/PHV distinction, or something to do with exclusive ranking at the airport
And a driving ban isn't generally a penalty used for plying for hire??
(The fine, costs and surcharge are quite modest though - £155 in total
)So although it may be a genuine case of touting, it's certainly not how I'd report it
(Note also that this is the official Bedfordshire Police press release, and not how it's been reported elsewhere.)