Taxi Driver Online

Private hire 'pirate' banned



A PRIVATE-hire driver who illegally picked up customers outside nightclubs has been banned from the road by a court.

Only drivers of black cabs can pick up customers on the street - private-hire journeys that have not been booked beforehand are not insured.

But Javed Elahi, 39, of Craig Road in Gorton, was caught plying for trade outside the Printworks in Manchester on March 8 and May 4.

Elahi - who had failed to turn up for an earlier hearing, leading to a warrant being issued for his arrest - was ordered to pay £300 and banned from driving for two years.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of plying for hire and two counts of picking up passengers without insurance at a hearing on November 5.

A second private-hire driver - Mohammed Shafiq, 29, of Oldham Road in Rochdale - has been ordered to pay more than £1,500 after magistrates heard he was loitering in his vehicle outside Bluu Bar, on Thomas Street, in the early hours of Sunday, May 4.

Fined

He was fined £300 for one count of plying for hire, £225 for taking passengers with no insurance, and was also told to pay £1,000 costs.

He was also given six penalty points on his licence. When caught out by licensing officers, Shafiq claimed he had parked his car to rest and wait for his next job.

But when the investigators studied the log sheets of his firm - Rochdale's Crown Cars - they found no evidence of the passenger's booking.

Manchester council spokesman Richard Cowell said: "Anyone who visits the city centre, especially during nights out, should be aware they are not insured if they hail a private-hire car on the street."

He added: "We are doing everything we can to crack down on unscrupulous drivers who try to make extra money with no regard for their passengers' safety.

"We have regular patrols looking out for private hire drivers who break the rules - particularly those who come in from out of town at weekends."

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Hopefully that will send out the right message I wish theyd clamp down on some of the Peterborough PH

Why do they insist on saying that the passengers are not insured?

_________________
Grandad,

Because they are thick.

_________________
IDFIMH

Because if they didnt passengers would still get in the things?

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

But they DO still get in them!

_________________
Grandad,

Explain to me....other than through the MIB in the event of an accident how they're insured to illegally ply for hire.

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

The passengers are insured, the vehicle is insured, the driver is NOT insured to pick up the passengers in the vehicle. In the event of an accident the passengers would be able to claim for any injuries they sustain but the driver would be done for not having the correct insurance.

_________________
Grandad,

Thank you Grandad.

But the following will suffice IMO for public consumption.



CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Would his Vehicle still be insured if it got damaged in an accident and any claim permitted?? or just the Passengers??

so...he didnt have Insurance of any type..is that why he was done?? and not for having an unsuitable insurance??

100% passenger cover, and maybe vehicle depending on his cover.

_________________
IDFIMH

you can see why the cowboys would take the risk....if his punters are covered and his Vehicle possibly covered....any Cowboy could make tens of thousands of pounds before before he gets a fine of a few hundred pounds handed to him...and thats only if he's caught.

Crime Can pay......

But if he is getting 6-8 points a catch it wont be long before he has no license.

_________________
IDFIMH

Lethal injection would be more efficient though

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin