Posted on the 2nd October 2026 in PHTM News

FORMER TAXI DRIVER FINED £1,623 AND PENALISED WITH SIX POINTS FOR DRIVING WITHOUT LICENCE OR INSURANCE

A former taxi driver has been fined £1,623 and given six points on his driving licence after being found guilty of driving a Rossendale hackney carriage without the required licence or insurance.

Mohammed Manir, 63, from Rawtenstall, was spotted by enforcement officers from Rossendale Borough Council's Public Protection Unit travelling along Burnley Road in Crawshawbooth on March 17.

The officers noticed the vehicle was missing its required roof light and recognised Manir, knowing he had not held a hackney carriage driver licence for several years. Officers followed the vehicle until it stopped and established that Manir was not the owner.

Manir appeared at Burnley Magistrates' Court on September 22, where he pleaded not guilty to both offences, telling the court he had been test-driving the vehicle to a garage in Haslingden and believed his vehicle traders' insurance policy covered him.

Despite his defense, he was convicted of driving the hackney carriage without a proper driver licence and without insurance.

Councillor Adrian Lythgoe, lead member for environment and corporate services at Rossendale Borough Council, emphasised the critical importance of these regulations: "Being licensed to drive a taxi isn't a box-ticking exercise, it comes with important responsibilities and safeguards the people using those vehicles."

He added: "Passengers should be able to get into a taxi knowing that the person behind the wheel is properly licensed and that the vehicle is appropriately insured. In this case, neither of those requirements was met."

Praising the authorities involved, Councillor Lythgoe concluded, "I'd like to thank the council's Public Protection officers for spotting the issue and following it through. Their work, alongside our wider enforcement teams, helps make sure the rules are followed and concerns are properly investigated, and we'll continue this work across the borough so people can have confidence when using local taxis."


Read another story