Taxi Driver Online

Another 70+ year-old driver

And I assumed 'Carmine' was another woman, but not according to the 'he/his' used in the rest of the piece.

But certainly got off lightly here in terms of the financial penalties and costs...

Anyway, guess which one of these the photo here is:

- the council vehicle inspection depot
- a prison
- Crawley Magistrates' Court




Unlicenced Burgess Hill private hire driver receives ban

https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/2585459 ... eives-ban/



A 71-year-old private hire driver has been disqualified for six months after operating without a valid licence.

Carmine Morrone, of London Road, Burgess Hill, appeared at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on February 12.

The court heard that between May 17 and July 26, 2025, Morrone knowingly drove a private hire vehicle in Burgess Hill without holding a current licence, as required under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.

The vehicle involved was a white Ford Kuga, registration MX66 YCL.

Morrone pleaded guilty to driving a private hire vehicle in a controlled district without a current licence under section 51 of the Act.

In addition, he admitted being the proprietor of the same vehicle and using it as a private hire vehicle in Burgess Hill without a valid vehicle licence under section 48 of the same legislation.

The prosecution was brought by Mid Sussex District Council.

The court also heard that on July 26, 2025, Morrone used the vehicle on a road or other public place in West Sussex without there being a valid policy of insurance in force, contrary to section 143 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

He pleaded guilty to that offence.

Magistrates fined Morrone £52 for driving without the required private hire licence and a further £52 for using the vehicle as a private hire vehicle without a valid vehicle licence.

For the insurance offence, he was fined £158.

He was also ordered to pay a £105 victim services surcharge and £185 in prosecution costs.

A collection order was made, and he was told to pay the total of £552 at a rate of £100 per month starting from February 27.

As a result of the insurance offence, Morrone's driving licence was endorsed with six penalty points and he was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for six months.

The disqualification was described as obligatory due to repeat offending under the "totting up" provisions of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.

His guilty pleas were taken into account when sentencing.

Another unnecessary detail that I'm surprised is published by the local press - there's a fair chance someone else might end up owning the vehicle, assuming it hasn't been sold on already.

this sounds like a pensioner trying to earn a little extra cash by charging people for lifts rather than someone tryiing to offer a full PH service so maybe publishing the registration number is a way of letting people know not to use him.

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Or someone whose driving badge had recently expired.

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IDFIMH

And his plate, assuming he ever had one