Slightly odd case this, as will become apparent
Taxi driver in Shepshed overcharged disabled elderly passenger
https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news ... ed-2974791
He was prosecuted as a result
A taxi driver has been prosecuted for overcharging an elderly and disabled passenger.
Noel Bertram picked up his fare but did not start his cab’s meter and at the end of his journey he charged the pensioner £30.
The cabbie was caught after a police officer spotted him driving in Shepshed and followed him because he knew his Fiat Scudo was not licensed.
Charnwood Borough Council decided to take Mr Bertram, of Milton Street Loughborough, to court.
The 71-year-old was convicted in his absence of taking a fare when the vehicle was not licensed and two offences of not activating the meter.
Leicester Magistrates Court heard that on September 13 last year, Mr Bertram was seen driving in Shepshed by the police officer.
The officer followed the vehicle to the Shepshed Town Council and Community Centre where he saw the driver lower the vehicle’s ramp and pick up a customer.
The vehicle then drove off towards Loughborough.
Subsequent inquiries revealed that the passenger paid a fee of £30 for the return journey.
What was Mr Bertram's explanation?
Mr Bertram was interviewed under caution and admitted that he was not licensed at the relevant time and that he had undertaken a fare for an elderly disabled passenger.
He had secured a licence for the vehicle, but it was not valid until September 14, 2018.
Mr Bertram said he did not use the taxi meter because it would not include the time spent loading and unloading a wheelchair from the vehicle.
A council enforcement officer calculated the journey should have cost £21.70.
Mr Bertram was fined £660, ordered to pay costs of £85 and a £30 victim surcharge.
After the hearing, Coun Margaret Smidowicz, the council’s lead member for regulatory services, said: “I hope this case demonstrates to other taxi drivers that you can’t ignore the regulations and that we won’t hesitate to prosecute drivers who are not complying with them.
“People put their trust in taxi drivers and as a local authority we need to ensure the taxis in the borough are licensed and operating correctly.
"I’d like to also take this opportunity to remind members of the public to ensure the taxi they use is a licensed vehicle driven by a licensed driver.”
Mr Bertram is no longer a licensed driver with Charnwood Borough Council.
