Taxi Driver Online

POLICE today launched a massive operation to target “lawless areas” of Birmingham where motorists drive without tax, insurance or licences.


The two-week zero tolerance crackdown will prosecute and fine illegal drivers in Sparkbrook, Sparkhill and those using the Stratford Road.

Fed up residents, businesses and even schools have told police that motorists are persistently and flagrantly ignoring parking and driving laws.

The areas have also been identified by the DVLA as among the worst in the city for vehicles failing to display tax discs and having no insurance. Other issues flagged up to neighbourhood officers by residents include illegal parking, speeding, vehicles causing obstruction and general anti- social behaviour. Insp Sally Seeley, from the Sparkhill neighbourhood team, said: “Lawless would not be too strong an expression to describe the attitude of a lot of drivers in these areas.

“We have given repeated warnings, but nothing seems to sink in, so now we are going on the front foot.

“Drivers are parking where they like even though a few hundred yards down the road there is a legal parking space.

“This causes a lot of anguish for people living and working nearby and it is something we are determined to stop.”

Police will also be on the lookout for drivers who pass through the area talking on their mobile phones and parents who fail to use child safety seats.

The multi-agency operation led by the police will include Birmingham City Council, the DVLA, local recovery agents and the force traffic unit.

Officers will also be looking for unlicensed private hire and hackney carriage vehicles plying for hire in the area to safeguard the work of the genuine taxi driving community.

Drivers at the wheel of cabs failing roadworthy tests and failing to comply with individual private hire authority regulations could face suspension or prohibition notices.

Insp Seeley added: “These people give the other 99.9 per cent of honest, law abiding taxi drivers a bad reputation and it is something we are determined to stop.

“It is difficult to know why this part of Birmingham is such a problem when it comes to parking and driving awareness.

“But we have listened to schoolteachers, local businesses and residents and have tried warnings. Now we have to act before lives are lost.”

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