Taxi driver caught illegally trading and fined thousands of pounds A TAXI driver was hit with hefty fines after he was caught illegally plying for hire right outside the council offices.
Abid Hussain was caught red-handed in the hackney carriage rank in Bridge Street, where Reading Borough Council is based.
The 54-year-old was already on a warning after he was caught driving unlicensed in December 2015.
Hussain, of Blenheim Road, Reading, was ordered to appear in front of magistrates, but he did not turn up.
He was sentenced in his absence, and was fined nearly £2,500.
A spokesman for Reading Borough Council said: "Hussain was found guilty of plying for hire in an unlicensed vehicle and as an unlicensed driver. On a second occasion he was caught illegally waiting at a taxi rank.
"On December 17 2015, Council licensing officers carried out a test purchase and found Hussain driving unlicensed.
"On May 23 2016, Hussain was again caught in the hackney carriage rank in Bridge St, Reading, without a driver or vehicle licence."
Hussain was convicted of plying for hire in an unlicensed vehicle and fined £2,468.
He was also ordered to pay £1,500 in costs and a victim surcharge of £88.
Cllr Paul Gittings, Reading's lead member for consumer services, added: “This is a positive outcome which upholds regulations that are in place to protect the public. I hope cases such as this will serve as a deterrent to drivers who are tempted to work illegally in Reading.”
source:
http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/ ... of_pounds/
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