Taxi Driver Online

Minicab Driver hit with £1,000 bill after plying for hire illegally in Stone



A minicab driver has been hit with six penalty points and a bill of more than £1,000 for plying for hire illegally in Stone.

Lucky Seven private hire driver, Bilal Hussain, was caught in a joint operation between Stafford Borough Council and police in Stone.

The 29-year-old from Hamilton Road, Stoke on Trent, was given a 12 month conditional discharge, fined £205 and given six penalty points on his driving licence after admitting plying for hire and having no insurance when he appeared at court on Tuesday, November 10. He was also ordered to pay costs of £786.60 and a victim surcharge of £20 by magistrates in Newcastle Under Lyme.

Undercover officers approached his vehicle in Station Road, Stone and Hussain 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 www.staffordbc.gov.uk/transport-and-str ... d-minicabs


Read more: http://www.staffordshirenewsletter.co.u ... z3rTeey7VJ

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

The joint 'Safer Nights' operation aims to reduce the risks to residents of uninsured and unsafe vehicles on the roads in the borough.

so why is a PH car picking up a booking safe but suddenly becomes a deathtrap if plying for hire.

he shouldn't be plying for hire but why do these council bods say they are doing this for "safety " they are doing it to uphold the law

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Disgraceful set up......

The law was only broken because of the actions of the council bods...... Big Brother watches us all

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There's no excuse for animal abuse. If you ain't vegan you are an animal abuser.

You can't possibly believe that this was the only time that this mush had picked up without a booking.

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Grandad,

Maybe not, but in this instance the council bods made the approach and thats out of order

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There's no excuse for animal abuse. If you ain't vegan you are an animal abuser.

No it isn't it is test purchasing and more of it should be done.

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Grandad,