A private hire driver has been slapped with a substantial fine after being caught operating illegally in Reading town centre.
The Reading Chronicle reports that Saleem Raza, 63, from Reading, was caught illegally offering to drive people home without a prior booking in a council sting operation.
He has now been hit with costs totalling £2,900 and given eight penalty points on his driving licence.
In the early hours of the morning after a busy Saturday night, Mr Raza was parked in West Street outside a late-night food takeaway, an area known to council licensing officers for drivers illegally plying for hire.
Mr Raza was approached by a licensing officer and agreed to take them to Tilehurst for £15 without the required prior booking.
After a court hearing, he was fined £1,000 for the offence of plying for hire.
He was ordered to pay prosecution costs of £1,500 and a victim surcharge of £400.
Mr Raza was dealt the penalty points, fines and costs at a hearing at Reading Magistrates Court on Thursday, April 4.
Consumer protection group manager at the council, Rob Abell, said: “Public safety and confidence to use regulated and licensed taxis is of paramount importance.
“Unlicensed drivers who undermine that trust will be robustly dealt with to maintain public confidence and ensure safety in our nighttime economy.
“The Council Licensing Team worked tirelessly to bring this complex case to court, and I am delighted the District Judge recognised the importance of it."
Source: https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/24259355.reading-taxi-driver-must-pay-2-900-illegally-work/
A new cycle lane has opened in Colchester city centre at the cost of £137,000, but concerns have now been raised about its proximity to a taxi rank.
The teen admitted to the assault in an interview and he liaised with the victim.
A group of more than 10,000 black cab drivers is suing Uber after accusing it of breaching booking rules in London, in a move which could cost the ride-hailing giant more than £250m.
Disabled passengers across Sheffield have told taxi drivers how they are made to wait a number of hours for rides.
Shortly after 9.30pm on April 29, the cabbie picked up a man at Coventry train station, before driving on towards Bennetts Road South.
Wyre Forest DC is consulting on the plans after a review of the existing licensing policy that currently only requires drivers applying for a first licence to complete such training.
City councillors heard the taxi driver had an unblemished 27-year record and would be huge loss to the trade.
It happened after a Toyota Prius PHV, which had been ordered to an address there, pulled up at the location.
Demonstrators claim their pay has fallen and feel unfairly treated by the app-based operator.
Newcastle is currently one of the cheapest places in the UK to travel by hackney carriage, with passengers being charged no more than £5.55 for a two-mile journey during the day.