Taxi Driver Online

Private hire taxi driver fined after picking up undercover officer in council sting

A private hire taxi driver has appeared in court after picking up an undercover licensing officer who hadn’t booked. Haetham Majid Taha was fined over the illegal fare pick-up in Middlesbrough.

Taha, of Parliament Street, Stockton, admitted driving without motor insurance when he appeared at Teesside Magistrates’s Court earlier this month. As a private hire driver, Taha was only allowed to take fares which had already pre-booked a taxi.

It followed an operation in Middlesbrough last November when council officers flagged down the Stockton Council-licensed private hire vehicle, on Acklam Road. Taha agreed to take the officers to the Sporting Lodge Hotel, for an agreed £5 fare. Only Hackney Carriage licence holders - who drive vehicles notable for their black and yellow livery - can accept a fare without a prior booking.

The 33-year-old was fined £120, with £194 costs and a £30 victim surcharge. The illegal plying for hire invalidated Taha’s motor insurance as the journey had not been pre-booked through a licensed private hire operator. In addition to the court fine, Mr Taha’s driving licence was endorsed with six penalty points. No separate penalty was imposed for plying for hire.

In mitigation Mr Taha’s solicitor suggested he was unaware that he was unable to pick passengers up without a booking.

Councillor Julia Rostron, Middlesbrough Council’s executive member for adult health and social care, said: “We take safety and welfare of the taxi travelling public extremely seriously, and that’s why we take robust enforcement action against those who put passengers at risk by flouting the law. “We are fully committed to ensuring that all operators, vehicles and drivers are properly licensed and that they operate within the law.”

_________________
IDFIMH

So he's licensed as a private hire driver but says he's unaware of even the most basic of rules?

Either he's or it all just underlines the inadequacy of the licensing process.

I could believe either.

Which also suggests he's been doing it since he got his licence !

Many years ago, possibly 25, a newly licensed PH driver, driving his newly licensed PH vehicle, pulled into the station and joined the taxi rank.

To much cussing from some, and high amusement from others.

_________________
IDFIMH

and that driver should have learnt the basic rules before starting to work lucky they weren't reported to the council

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