Taxi Driver Online

Newport Taxi Crackdown Gets Results

Wednesday 22nd July 2009

A crackdown on taxis operating illegally in Newport led to five successful prosecutions.

Five drivers face paying fines and costs totalling more than £2,000 for plying for hire in unlicensed vehicles.

In June, officers from the council's licensing team and Gwent Police carried out a joint enforcement operation in the city centre, Caerleon and Maindee.

Three drivers pleaded guilty by post and Abergavenny magistrates ordered them to pay between £350 and £385 each in fines and council costs.

Two others failed to respond to the summons and the cases were proved in their absence.

They were ordered to pay £516 and £581 each in fines and costs.

Only council-licensed Hackney Carriage black taxis may lawfully pick up passengers in the street without the journey having been booked in advance.

Private hire drivers who pick up people who have not pre-booked are committing an offence and their insurance becomes invalid.

From October, Newport’s private hire cabs will have to display triangular door stickers which will clearly identify them as licensed vehicles for private hire purposes.

Cllr David Fouweather, cabinet member for environment and community safety, said the laws were in place to protect passengers.

“If there is an accident the driver is not insured - this is an offence we take very seriously.”

Source; southwalesargus.co.uk

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Brummie Cabbie.

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Perhaps Cllr Fouweather would like to explain as to why back about 4/5 years ago they pulled 33 PH drivers over two nights - and never prosecuted or disciplined any of them



What a lying toe rag.

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