Taxi Driver Online

South Wales Echo

March 5, 2008, Wednesday

Cowboy cabs told: Watch your mirrors!

"COWBOY cabbies" are once again being urged to keep one eye in the rear-view mirror as authorities step up their campaign against them.

Rhondda Cynon Taf council's licensing team and South Wales Police are continuing a high profile campaign of enforcement against illegal taxi drivers.

In the latest prosecution, a licensed driver used his own car - which was not licensed or insured as a taxi - to transport children to school after his legitimate taxi broke down.

David Resoli of Lwyn Onn, Penderyn, was employed by an approved operator who carried out the school run as part of a Rhondda Cynon Taf council contract.

When his legal taxi broke down, he visited the parents and explained the situation and they persuaded him to use his own car, a Vauxhall Astra, to take their child to school.

The same parents attended Aberdare Magistrates' Court on February 29 to support him and explain the situation to the court.

Mr Resoli was fined pounds 75 for operating the vehicle without the necessary licence and pounds 100 or using the vehicle without appropriate insurance.
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