FIT AND PROPER


STRATFORD TAXI DRIVER FINED £50 FOR SMOKING IN CAB


A taxi driver from Stratford has been fined for smoking at the wheel. Licensing officers from Stratford DC saw the driver, who has not been named, in possession of a lit cigarette, while driving a black cab. Officers issued the Fixed Penalty Notice of £50, under the Health Act


2006, to the licensed driver. SDC community safety spokesman Cllr Christopher Kettle said: “It is illegal to smoke in any commercial vehicle carrying members of the public, including taxis and private hire vehicles. “The legislation requires all vehicles used for public transport


to be smoke-free at all times which includes when they do not have passengers. “Equally taxi drivers have a greater responsibility in that they need to protect the public health of their passengers.” The driver paid the fine immediately.


UNLICENSED PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER FINED ALMOST £1,000 FOR ILLEGAL TRIPS IN READING


An unlicensed private hire driver who was found to be illegally dropping off fares in Reading has been fined more than £900. Tassawar Nawaz, from Reading, was caught operating a private hire vehicle without a licence, in a controlled district, and without the correct insurance. In July 2022, Nawaz was approached by


two Reading


council licensing officers after he was seen dropping off two passengers on a taxi rank at Reading Station. At Reading Magistrates Court on February 17, Nawaz was found guilty and ordered to pay a total of £982 in financial penalties, including a £690 fine, and a £92 victim surcharge. Eight penalty points were also


added to Mr Nawaz’s driving licence. Cllr Tony Page, Reading’s lead councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport,


said: “I hope the


outcome of this case will serve to deter any drivers from contravening the law. Such illegal activity will not be tolerated and our team will continue to maintain their enforcement activities.”


DISQUALIFIED WILTSHIRE CABBIE BANNED FOR A YEAR FOR DRIVING FRIEND TO SHOP


A taxi driver drove his friend to the shop while disqualified and has been banned for one year, a court heard. Richard Coulson, 64, drove a company-owned Vauxhall Zafira without a valid driving licence and with no insurance. The taxi had been parked outside his home because the company “had problems” parking cars at the office. Coulson, from Amesbury, decided to use the car to drive his friend


PHTM APRIL 2023


three miles to the shops in Larkhill when he was stopped by police. Officers recognised Coulson as someone who had been disqualified and he admitted at the roadside that he had been driving illegally. Coulson appeared in Salisbury Magistrate’s Court on Friday, March 10, and the court heard that he had eight and a half weeks left of his six-month totting-up ban. Bob Scott, defending, said Coulson “took a silly risk”, adding: “He was


not comfortable working but he did a friend a favour by taking them to the shop. “The ban will have an effect on his ability to employ himself.” He is due to start the process of a knee replacement on March 24 and Mr Scott said: “In any respect, I don’t think he’ll be driving any time soon.” Coulson pleaded guilty to the two motoring offences, was ordered to pay £533 and was banned from driving for 12 more months.


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