Taxi Driver Online

Couldn't be bothered with this yesterday, but since there's zero news today...

And it's not often you read about a proper 'touting' conviction, but whether that's what it actually is or not isn't clear - see comments below.

Taxi tout at London Luton Airport given driving ban

https://www.bedfordshire.police.uk/news ... t-june2019

4 Jun 2019

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.

He was disqualified from driving for 30 days, fined £40 and ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

Sergeant James Hart, from the force’s community policing team at the airport, said: “We know that illegal touts have been causing a number of issues at the airport.

“This kind of behaviour can be irritating for people, and it is also unfair on legitimate taxi drivers who have gone through the proper processes of getting a licence.

“Touting will not be tolerated. Those doing so will be interviewed and prosecuted to the full extent.”

If you have any information about illegal taxi touting at London Luton Airport, please report it via 101 or through the online reporting centre on Bedfordshire Police’s website.

You can also ring Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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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.)

I suspect it was touting rather than plying for hire, as the ban accords with the sentencing guidelines.

https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/of ... ised-2017/

I also think, generally, plying cases are prosecuted by councils, whereas this offence was prosecuted by the police.

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IDFIMH

That is one airport where they employ a lot of staff to control and enforce car parks

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Another proper tout (as opposed to plying for hire) from Luton Airport, and little doubt about it this time - it specifically states he was approaching people.

Luton man fined for illegally touting for taxi business

https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/crime ... ss-2444475

The 46-year-old have also been disqualified from driving for three months

A man who illegally touted for taxi business at London Luton Airport has been fined £1,124.

Muhammad Sajid, 46, of Dallow Road, Luton, has also been disqualified from driving for three months after an operation by Bedfordshire Police’s airport policing team.

Plain clothed and uniformed officers were patrolling the drop-off zone at the airport on 12 November when Sajid approached a plain clothed officer and offered them a taxi.

Sajid attempted to flee the scene but was detained.

CCTV showed Sajid had been touting for business for around an hour before being caught by police.

PC Dominic Tembey, from the airport policing team, said: “These illegal taxi touts are taking money directly from hard working drivers who follow the rules.

“We have seen thefts and even violence in this area linked to taxi touts and it is important we target people like Sajid in order to keep people safe.

“This sort of sentence should serve as a warning to people considering doing this – there is no excuses, you will be caught and you will be punished.”