Another Henley Regatta one, but this time at least it's an HC rather than a TfL PHV, and the fare quote isn't unreasonable - £40/50 for around 13 miles. Didn't the recentt TfL PHD quote £50 for around eight miles?
And think someone at South Oxon Council has got the cases mixed up - there's a reference to Mr Miah in the Notes to Editors at the bottom here, who was the TfL PHD in the last case, as per the link at the bottom:
Taxi driver convicted and fined for offering rides illegally at Henley Regatta
https://www.southoxon.gov.uk/licensing/ ... y-regatta/
A Buckinghamshire hackney carriage driver has been convicted of illegally plying for hire at Henley Regatta.
On Friday 13 January, Oxford Magistrates’ Court heard how during last year’s Regatta, officers from South Oxfordshire District Council spotted Zaheer Ahmed Choudhry’s vehicle parked on double yellow lines on Thameside in Henley.
Officers identified Mr Choudhry’s vehicle as a hackney carriage licensed by Buckinghamshire Council. Hackney carriage vehicles licensed outside the district are not permitted to pick customers up off the street without a booking through a licensed private hire operator.
Having witnessed the vehicle parked in a prominent location, one officer approached and asked Mr Choudhry if he could take them to High Wycombe Railway Station. Mr Choudhry replied saying he was available and could do the journey immediately for £40 or £50.
Mr Choudhry, 46, of Youens Road in High Wycombe pleaded guilty to illegally plying for hire. The magistrates imposed a fine of £183 and awarded costs to the district council of £1,374 with an additional £73 victim surcharge.
Cllr Kate Gregory, Cabinet Member for Legal and Democratic at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “If someone is illegally plying for hire, it has the potential to put people’s safety at risk because we’re not able to check if the driver and their vehicle are safe and suitable to transport passengers. It also undermines the drivers that play by the rules and are fully licensed and insured.
“This is the second prosecution, following work carried out by our enforcement officers at Henley Regatta, and demonstrates that we will not hesitate to take action against any driver acting illegally.”
ENDS
Notes for editors :
South Oxfordshire District Council prosecuted Mr Zaheer Ahmed Choudhry for illegally plying for hire contrary to section 45 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847.
In court, the magistrates imposed the following fine on Mr Miah:
- • Illegally plying for hire – £183
He was also ordered to pay the council’s full costs of £1,374 and a victim surcharge of £73, totalling £1,630.
You can find out more details of the previous prosecution in our press release – http://www.southoxon.gov.uk/licensing/p ... ey-regatta
