Minicab driver caught in Stone sting gets expensive fareA minicab driver from Stoke on Trent has been hit with six penalty points and a nearly £1k bill after plying for hire illegally.
Ace Private Hire driver, Imran Khan, was caught in a joint operation between Stafford Borough Council and police in Stone.
The 30 year old from Argyll Road admitted plying for hire and having no insurance when he appeared at court yesterday (Wednesday). He was given six points on his licence, fined a total of £450 and ordered to pay costs of £500 with a victim surcharge of £27 by magistrates in Newcastle Under Lyme.
Undercover officers approached his vehicle in Station Road, Stone and Khan agreed to take them to the town’s Darlaston Inn in April.
Drivers who do not have a hackney carriage licence can only pick up passengers that have booked in advance – and it is illegal for them to collect customers in the street or from a taxi rank.
The joint ‘Safer Nights’ operation aims to reduce the risks to residents of uninsured and unsafe vehicles on the roads in the borough.
Cabinet Member for Environment and Health, Councillor Frank Finlay, said following the case that along with having to pay fines and costs, points on a driver’s licence can make insurance cover more expensive as well.
He continued:
“We are determined to clamp down on drivers who stick two fingers up at the law by picking up customers when they are not entitled to.
“One of our top priorities is the health and wellbeing of our community and this operation aims to protect the public as they are at risk, because these vehicles will not be insured if they are picking up passengers in this way.”
There have been a number of successful prosecutions over the last few months following the joint operation.
More information on taxis and private hire vehicles can be found at
http://www.staffordbc.gov.uk/transport-and-streets/taxis-and-minicabssource:
http://www.stonegazette.co.uk/2015/10/c ... sive-fare/
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