An uninsured, illegal Minicab Driver, has been ordered to pay a £1,000 fine after appearing in a Magistrate's Court. Obviously this isn't in London.
A private hire driver has been ordered to pay a grand for illegally trying to pick up passengers in the city centre.
Ajaz Khan, aged 33 and from Rochdale, was fined £250 for plying for hire and £500 for driving with no insurance with £250 costs after he pleaded guilty to both offences at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on August 14.
It is illegal for private hire drivers to pick up passengers who flag them down on the street, and doing so automatically means they have no insurance, as all journeys taken in private hire cars must be pre booked through the operator.
Khan, who changed his plea from not guilty during the hearing, was also given six penalty points on his driving licence.
Two Manchester City Council licensing enforcement officers, who were working in the city centre as part of an operation to stop illegal minicab drivers, got into Khan’s car on Deansgate just before midnight on June 14.
He agreed to take them to Oldham before they announced themselves as City Council officers.
The driver, who works for a Rochdale private hire company, admitted at the time that he had dropped off a fare in Middleton and had driven to the city centre to find more work.
Councillor Nigel Murphy, Manchester City Council’s executive member for the environment, said: “Anyone who visits the city centre, especially during nights out, should be aware they are not insured if they hail a private hire car on the street.
“We regard illegal ply for hire as a serious offence and where we have the necessary evidence will prosecute unscrupulous drivers who try to make extra money with no regard for their passengers’ safety. We have officers working outside of office hours undertaking a variety of different approaches to try and ensure that public safety isn’t compromised by illegal activities of minicab drivers and that all their vehicles are well maintained and safe.”
Source: The Manchester Gazette.
Meanwhile in London's Westend.
Unfortunately the opposite attitude is the order of the day in London.
TfL's licensing department's compliance officers, generally turn a blind eye to minicab drivers illegally plying for hire at night in central London.
They are never openly seen checking documents or vehicle conditions in situ, where these cars regularly, illegally park and ply for hire.
On the other hand, compliance teams can often be found on licensed Taxi ranks checking the badge and bills of Taxi drivers.
Traffic wardens walk by minicabs illegally parked and refuse point blank to issue them tickets.
Even the police seem to have no appetite to get involved saying this is not a high priority crime.
Truth is this is not a victimless crime.
Apart from the fact that minicab journeys contracted in this manner are uninsured, police estimates show there are 25 minicab relate serious sexual assaults, including rapes every week. (Figures based on statistics issued by Met Police PoP Clapham report).
That's 25 lives and the lives of their families, shattered every week.
TfL's controversial commissioner Sir Peter Hendy, openly refused to acknowledge the steep rise in minicab related, serious sexual assault figures on BBC's radio London, even though they appeared on TfLs own Website.
Since Hendy took over control of TfL, only one minicab driver has been convicted of illegally plying for hire in London. According to TfL's website, for the last available six months, figures show 11 minicab drivers have had there licences revoked, after being arrested and convicted for the more serious offence of touting by the Police.
Nothing to be proud if there!
This is totally unacceptable and is scandalous.
Our licensing authority turns a blind eye to this situation, because they don't want to upset the major PH operators who seem to drive policy at TfL.
Photos above were captured at 10:30pm in Regent Street by Swallow Street Arch.
The bus lane as you can clearly see, is completely blocked by PHVs illegally plying for hire.
Do bus drivers never complain?
No enforcement from TfL/LTPH, Westminstet or the Police. This situation is completely out of hand and public safety is being put at risk, every night of the week, as London becomes a free for all.