Taxi drivers under investigation and defective vehicles taken off the road in council undercover operationThree taxi drivers are under investigation and two defective vehicles were taken off the road after an undercover operation by Charnwood Borough Council.
Council officers, posing as customers, carried out 13 test journeys with taxis in Loughborough as part of routine enforcement to check that customers are being kept safe and not being overcharged.
As a result of the operation, two drivers are being investigated for refusing to take officers on a short journey and a third is being investigated for failing to switch on his meter. Both are criminal offences and the drivers could be prosecuted.
Seven vehicles were also inspected by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) which is responsible for maintaining vehicle standards. Two were suspended from use after defects were found.
One licensed driver who was stopped failed to produce his driver badge, which is also a requirement of their licence.
The operation was organised by the council’s licensing team and supported by police and the DVSA.
Councillor Jonathan Morgan, cabinet member for regulatory services, said: “The majority of taxi drivers in Charnwood are law-abiding and provide an excellent service.
“However, there are some who don’t and that’s why we need to carry out operations like this.
“Public safety is our number one priority and we will not hesitate to take action against drivers who are not following the rules.”
The operation was carried out on Friday, December 19, 2014.
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