Taxi Driver Online

I'm not sure if this has been posted or not?
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Bucks Herald

May 14, 2008

Wendover taxi driver prosecution serves as warning to others

A TAXI driver who faces losing his licence after being prosecuted for operating illegally should be seen as a warning to the rest of the trade, say Aylesbury Vale District Council.

Sayfur Rahman, of Aylesbury Road, Wendover, was caught plying for hire in his private hire vehicle, which should only pick up pre-booked passengers.

The offence came to light during a test purchasing operation in Aylesbury town centre involving officers from the council's licensing team. Licensed private hire drivers were approached, without prior booking, and asked to take officers to previously set destinations.

Rahman was caught after picking up two plain clothed officers outside Sainsbury's in Buckingham Street and agreeing to take the passengers to the Watermead Inn, where they were met by an officer from the council's licensing department. The defendant was cautioned and questioned by the officer.

At a hearing at Aylesbury Magistrates' Court on 8 May, Rahman pleaded guilty to plying for hire and was fined £150. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15 and £100 costs.

Cllr Judy Brandis, Chairman of the AVDC Licensing Committee, said: "This will be a warning to other private hire drivers operating in Aylesbury. Agreeing to take anyone to any destination without prior booking is a criminal offence. Only hackney carriages are licensed to pick up unbooked customers. This sort of action is not only detrimental to passengers since they will not be insured, but also harms the reputation of the overwhelming majority of taxi drivers who abide by the law."

She added: "Following this conviction the licensing team will have to decide whether this driver is a fit and proper person to hold a private hire licence."
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Clearly he got what he deserved, but I'm not sure that type of enforcement can be classed as 'test purchases'.

From the way I read things 'test purchases' can only take place if someone advertises their wares.

A PH is a PH, not a taxi.

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IDFIMH

A Wendover "TAXI" driver JD? Surely a typo?

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Former taxi driver

I merely copied the headline from the original article, Jimbo.

I was going to change it and insert my own headline but for some reason I decided to leave it.

Thank you for pointing it out, it proves the point that practically everyone who is not associated with the taxi trade sees all license hackney carriage and private hire vehicles, as taxis.

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

The last two private hire drivers to be prosecuted in Sefton, which was only last month, both received fines of £900 plus costs.

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!