Taxi Driver Online

October 2, 2007 Tuesday

Unlicenced taxi driver banned for six months

The Northern Echo

A TAXI driver has been banned from driving for six months after working without the proper licence and insurance.

Mohammed Zaroof, 37, of Dovecot Street, Stockton, was found guilty in his absence, of driving a taxi without a licence to do so and was fined £75. This is an offence under the Town Police Clauses Act 1847.

Magistrates at Teesside Magistrates Court also fined him £200 and ordered eight penalty points on his licence for not having necessary insurance under the Road Traffic Act 1988, resulting in his driving licence being disqualified for six months.

The court also awarded costs of £1,439 to Stockton Council, which brought the case.

A Stockton Council licensing officer had spotted Zaroof dropping off two passengers from a taxi at Sainsbury's supermarket in Stockton in November 2006.

The officer recognised him from January 2006, when the council's licensing committee had revoked his licence to drive hackney carriages and private hire vehicles after finding he was "not a fit and proper person to hold it".

The two passengers confirmed they had booked a hackney carriage from Tees Valley Cabs to take them to the supermarket.

When interviewed later, Zaroof admitted he was driving the vehicle but only as a mechanic. He said the two passengers were not customers but could not explain further for personal reasons.

In mitigation, he said he thought his work as a mechanic allowed him to drive the car and that his girlfriend had been one of the passengers.

In 2004, magistrates had fined Mr Zaroof £200 plus £324 costs for driving without a licence.

Councillor Steve Nelson, Stockton Council's cabinet member for housing and community safety, said: "Drivers who operate taxis illegally are a danger both to other motorists and their passengers, who are left uninsured. We will always use the law to take strong action against them."
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