Taxi Driver Online

Milton Keynes Citizen

December 18, 2007

Minicab firm fined over driver's licence

Milton Keynes Council's taxi licensing chiefs have pledged to crack down on minicab firms operating illegally in the city.

It follows the levying of fines and costs totalling more than £600 on a minicab boss who used a driver who did not have the relevant licence.

Mohammed Ishtiaq Siddiq, manager of Speedline, admitted operating a private hire vehicle without the driver having the proper licence and without holding a copy of that driver's licence when he appeared

before Milton Keynes Magistrates last Friday.

The court heard the offences happened in Milton Keynes between February and April this year.

Speedline is based just outside Milton Keynes and was licensed by South Northants Council.

Mr Siddiq was fined £150 for each offence and ordered to pay £300 costs plus the 'victim surcharge' of £15.

Afterwards a council taxi licensing spokesman said: "This is another case of Milton Keynes Council clamping down on people and companies who think they can act illegally in Milton Keynes. Public safety is paramount and people who act unlawfully are putting them at risk."

He said the information would be passed on to South Northants Council.
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Why is this such a story, it should be the norm?

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