FIT AND PROPER
RESULTS OF FIFE COUNCIL ENFORCEMENT OFFICER’S INVESTIGATIONS INTO COMPLAINTS
Fife Council’s licensing enforce- ment officer has looked into 31 complaints and enquiries between October 1 and December 31 last year and presented details to the regulation and licensing com- mittee. The officer, Craig Ritchie, said: “One driver has been accused of inappropriate conduct in the taxi and the matter has also been reported to the police with an investigation ongoing. A warning
has been issued pending the outcome of the investigation.” Another written warning went to a PH driver who had parked in a taxi rank to pick up a hire - he claimed to be “unaware” of the rank rules. A verbal warning was issued to a vehicle operator who allowed the MOT on one of their fleet of taxis to expire, which was put down to an administration error. Mr Ritchie’s enquiries covered licensing issues other than taxi
drivers and vehicle operators. Advice was given in nine cases, including to a taxi driver who “may have facilitated shoplifters leaving the scene after committing theft”. Mr Ritchie also took part in spot checks on various licensing activities with one taxi driver sent off the rank for not having their ID badge and for wearing a tracksuit, which is against the dress code. Three cabbies were also ticked off for the “dirty” state of their vehicle.
A driver who used his car as a taxi during the Henley Regatta despite it being unlicensed has been fined more than £2,000. Raja Ilyas Hussain, 43, from High Wycombe, was found guilty of permitting his vehicle to be used as a hackney carriage without a licence
and the appropriate
insurance at Oxford Magistrates’ Court at a hearing on January 15. The court heard that on August 15, 2021, a vehicle belonging to Mr Hussain was observed to be dis- playing a “taxi” roof sign in Henley- on-Thames during the Regatta. However, the vehicle was not displaying the required licence plate on the rear, which would identify it as a licensed vehicle. Licensing enforcement officers approached the vehicle to see whether it was licensed to be working in the town. The vehicle drove off immediately after the officers identified themselves. The court also heard that Mr
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DRIVERS FINED FOR ILLEGALLY PLYING & UNLAWFUL USE OF CAR AS TAXI DURING HENLEY REGATTA having the right licence
Hussain had previously held a driver’s
licence with South
Oxfordshire District Council, so would have been fully aware of the requirements for drivers and vehicles to be licensed, insured and safety checked to
carry
members of the public. After being found guilty, Mr Hussain was fined £440 for the unlawful plying for hire and £660 for not having the required insurance. Mr Hussain was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £440 and £800 towards prosecution costs. He was also given eight penalty points on his driving licence. The case was originally heard at the Magistrates’ Court in March 2022, but Mr Hussain applied for the case to be reopened, with the matter then heard in January 2024. This comes as Umar Ali, 36 from Reading, was ordered to pay almost £1,000 and had six points added to his DVLA licence after not
and
insurance and not wearing his private hire driver’s badge during the event this year on July 1. Appearing at a hearing at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on January 12, the court was told that Mr Ali was a licensed private hire driver with Reading Borough Council, but he was not licensed by
South
Oxfordshire District Council and not permitted to ply for hire within the district. Mr Ali’s car insurance
policy
excluded public hire and when stopped by South Oxfordshire licensing officers he was not wearing his private hire badge, despite maintaining that he had just dropped off a fare
and
agreeing to take the undercover officer to Reading. After pleading guilty, he was ordered to pay a total fine of £420, £168 victim surcharge and £400 costs and had six points added to his driving licence.
MARCH 2024 PHTM
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