Private hire driver from Rushden who put the local public at risk has been prosecuted by Central Bedfordshire CouncilA private hire driver from Rushden who put the local public at risk has been prosecuted by Central Bedfordshire Council public protection.
Michael John Charlton (68) 11 Lilac Grove, Rushden, Northamptonshire, was found guilty of ‘plying for hire’ at Luton Magistrates Court on July 29. He was ordered to pay a fine and costs totalling £1220.88.
Private hire drivers are only licensed and insured to pick-up and transport passengers who pre-book them. Only licensed taxi drivers, also known as hackney carriage drivers are able to pick up unbooked fares from taxi ranks or from people hailing a taxi from the street or roadside.
As well as the severe consequences for passengers travelling in an uninsured vehicle, private hire drivers who ‘ply for hire’ take away trade from licensed taxi drivers.
The service is cracking down on this activity and going undercover to see where private hire vehicles pick up non-booked passengers.
Undercover officers from the council’s Public Protection team posed as members of the public in Biggleswade town centre, where Charlton took the fare despite previous warnings from the council.
Cllr Brian Spurr, Executive Member for Sustainable Communities, Services said: “Customers are often unaware of the difference between private hire vehicles and Hackney carriages. By collecting non-booked passengers private hire vehicles are not only damaging the trade of local legitimate drivers but are invalidating their vehicle insurance, leaving unwitting consumers uncovered in the event of an accident.”
“This is part of a crackdown by the council’s Public Protection service. We want to make sure that when you get a taxi or book a private hire vehicle, that you’re insured during that journey.”
For more information about Trading Standards, visit
www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/tradingstandardsRead more:
http://www.northampton-news-hp.co.uk/Pr ... z39S1O2pa5
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