Taxi Driver Online

November 23, 2007 Friday

Licensing team cracks down on dodgy driver

Yeovil Express

A MAN driving unsuspecting passengers in an unlicensed car has been successfully prosecuted and given a criminal record thanks to South Somerset District Council's licensing team.

A 41-year-old man from Yeovil was tracked down by the council and was stopped by Avon and Somerset Police as he was driving on the way to Heathrow Airport with passengers still in the vehicle.

The council's licensing enforcement officer, Nigel Marston, said: "We followed up on some intelligence which led to working with the police to take the driver to court.

"He had been driving for up to a year with no licence to drive a private hire car and no licence for the car itself - he now has a criminal record after being found guilty on three counts, thanks to our partnership work with the police.

"Getting into an unlicensed taxi or car has many risks - the driver will probably not have had a recent Criminal Record Bureau check so could have convictions, and the car would probably not have valid insurance so in the event of an accident, there would be no cover.

"Also, the car may not be roadworthy as it would not have gone through our stringent checks that make sure the car is suitable for that type of use."

Cllr Ric Pallister, the council's portfolio holder for housing, environmental health and inclusion, said: "With safety as a high priority we will continue to work in very close partnership with the police to ensure the safety of our residents in using taxis and private hire vehicles.

"As we come up to the Christmas period I would remind everyone to check that they are using licensed vehicles and licensed drivers. If in doubt do not use that vehicle and report it."

Mr Marston added: "There are very few incidents like these and we do overall have a fantastic community of licensed drivers."
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Well done for catching an unlicensed driver but I suspect there may be more of his type than you actually realise?

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

Ahh they mean someone grassed him out - that's okay.

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

I wish Mr Roy Hadden, Renfrewshire Council's taxi enforcement officer, would act on intelligence

A colleague of mine passed a list of unlicensed private hire operators calling themselves 'executive/chauffeur' services & to my knowledge nothing has been done

http://www.lacars.co.uk/

http://www.glasgowtrading.com/companyprofile.php?id=1550

http://www.wedriveyou.co.uk/layout.asp?cust=855&nav=Glasgow

http://www.[edited by admin].com/dynamicdata/corporatechauffeur.aspx

http://www.travelexec.co.uk/index.html

Are all these companies operating with hires that last more than 24 hours ?