Three taxi drivers fined after Old Trafford taxi stinghttps://www.messengernewspapers.co.uk/n ... axi-sting/Three taxi drivers have been fined and handed penalty points for illegally picking up undercover officers on matchdays.
The offences took place outside Old Trafford stadium before and after Manchester United home games against Burnley and Everton.
Prosecutions were brought by Trafford Council at Manchester Magistrates’ Court.
All three drivers held hackney carriage licences issued by Manchester City Council, meaning they were not authorised to pick up passengers in Trafford without a booking.
Because the journeys were not pre-booked, the vehicles were uninsured.
Undercover licensing enforcement officers spotted the vehicles with their taxi signs illuminated and requested a journey to the city centre.
After the journey began, the officers identified themselves and asked the drivers to pull over.
Ishtiaq Hussain Bibi, 47, of Tamar Drive, Manchester, pleaded guilty to illegally plying for hire and using a vehicle without insurance on June 25.
He had offered to take officers to the city centre for £10.
Mr Bibi was fined £240 and ordered to pay a £96 surcharge and £100 in costs.
He also received six points on his driving licence.
Minas Tewolde, 58, of Verdun Road, Eccles, offended on November 24 when Manchester United played Everton.
He was found guilty of illegally plying for hire, failing to wear his driver’s badge, and using a vehicle without insurance.
He received six points, was fined £660, and ordered to pay a £264 surcharge and £580 in costs.
Erdan Shifa Mohammed, 50, of Gravenmoor Drive, Salford, pleaded guilty to similar offences.
He had asked for £25 in cash for the 4.5-mile trip to the city centre.
He was fined £400, given six points, and ordered to pay a £160 surcharge and £300 in costs.
Cllr Keleigh Glenton, executive member for community safety and civil contingencies at Trafford Council, said: "Only Hackney Carriages licensed by Trafford Council are permitted to pick up fares without a booking.
"These drivers committed the offence of illegally plying for hire and, in doing so, invalidated their insurance.
"Trafford’s Hackney Carriage drivers work hard to provide transport for those who need it in the borough.
"This type of behaviour puts public safety at risk and is illegal."
"Our Licensing Enforcement Team works to support drivers who follow the rules properly and to make sure passengers ride safely, with insurance in place.
"These cases highlight that courts take a very dim view of this behaviour.
"On top of the financial penalties, the points added to drivers’ licenses will have a much more lasting impact on them."
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