Taxi Driver Online

Wouldn't be surprised if the person who wrote this has worked in the press - there's certainly a crossover between people doing 'comms' stuff like this for Trafford Council, and the mainstream press in terms of career moves etc.

(A bit like the taxi trade and takeaway drivers )

But it reads slightly more like a press report than a council news release, with unnecessary detail about the seven-year-old son and the match details etc.

But as regards the technical trade stuff, it's all over the place.

It's a 'taxi driver' in the headline, and then an 'unlicensed taxi driver'

Then turns out he's actually a 'private hire taxi driver'.

So he actually is a licensed taxi driver, albeit a private hire one

And just to confuse the average reader, the term 'Hackney Carriage rank' then pops up...

Trafford Council are certainly on the ball about stuff like this, though

Some might call it harsh refereeing or overzealous VAR, though...


Taxi driver fined after charging football fans £35 for four-mile illegal journey

https://www.trafford.gov.uk/residents/n ... urney.aspx

An unlicenced taxi driver who picked up a Manchester United fan and his seven-year-old son after a match has been fined after the man complained to Trafford Council’s Licensing Enforcement Team.

Private hire taxi driver Rehan Mirza was waiting in his Mercedes at a Hackney Carriage rank on Sir Matt Busby Way outside Old Trafford after United’s win against Leicester City in November last year.

The pair were taken to Manchester Picadilly Station as requested but Mr Mirza’s insistence that the journey cost £35 made the man suspicious. He paid up – but then contacted the Council.

An investigation found Mr Mirza, 42, of Chudleigh Road, Crumpsall, Manchester, had been illegally plying for fares at the rank and driving without insurance. Private hire drivers can pick-up only pre-booked passengers.

Mr Mirza pleaded guilty in Manchester Magistrates Court after his private hire licence was revoked in his absence at a meeting of Trafford Council’s Licensing Sub Committee.

The court fined him £250 with a surcharge of £100 and he was ordered to pay costs of £300.

A spokesperson for Trafford Council said:

“Once again our Licensing Enforcement Team has demonstrated a continued dedication to hold drivers, who put the public at risk, accountable for their actions.

“Only Trafford licensed Hackney vehicles can pick customers up without a prebooked fare outside Old Trafford. Our enforcement team continue to proactively patrol Old Trafford on match days and respond to complaints to ensure decisive action is taken where necessary.”

Posted on Tuesday 30th September 2025