Taxi Driver Online

A District Judge rejected a last minute bid to halt the prosecution for illegal “Plying for Hire”, of Private Hire drivers working for AA United Taxis a Private Hire Operators in Court on Tuesday 2nd November.

Judge Wicks sitting in Hemel Hempstead’s No2 Court decided to continue to hear the case against the PH operator and 6 Private Hire drivers. Defence Council tried to have the case thrown out on the grounds of “ Undue Process”. They claimed that as the operator and his drivers were acting in a manner that they believed the Borough Council and Mr Jeffrey Lieb was happy with, then they were acting in good faith, due to the lack of any communications to the contrary.

Mr Lief provided copies of his correspondence, and minutes from meetings that he had held with the operator, in which he claimed that although he acknowledged what AA United in conjunction with Silverlink the Train Operator planned to do, that was not the same as agreeing it was legal.

Following the judge’s decision to continue to hear the evidence of the case the court adjourned for 10 minutes before starting to hear evidence. The case is scheduled to continue on Thursday the 4th and Friday 5th.

Yes it should be done and dusted by today, I suppose who ever loses may appeal the verdict, interesting few weeks we have ahead us.

Best Wishes

JD

Some more news here, 4 Private hire drivers have been found guilty of plying for hire and the operator has been found guilty of aiding and abetting.

Good news.

4 drivers found guilty, sentence absolute discharge one person found guilty of aiding and abetting hit with costs of 8 grand. 4 drivers found not guilty.

The council are going to make a statement on the matter.

best wishes

JD

Still good news though even if the operator gets hit everytime with £8,000 costs it's all good news.

An absolute discharge to me means the judge thinks the council are at fault, as well as the drivers. As for the eight grand costs, well all the firm will do is put a couple more cars on.

However it all boils down to the fact that although the PH firm lost in court, if any of us go down to the station tommorrow, they will see PH cars picking up at the station, not taxis.

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IDFIMH

Same as I said it's good news even if the operator gets hit with a £8,000 court costs everytime.

Its only good news Nigel if we get something concrete out of this judgement and for that to hapopen it has to go to appeal, other wise we have won nothing.

The whole point of statute law is having it writtren in black and white. Until they appeal this judgement means sweet FA.

Best wishes

Jd

I don't think they will appeal, as long as the PH firm keeps the station rank.

But I expect in the next edition of 'Crap Trade News' the T&G would have KO'd them.

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IDFIMH

We will have to wait and see.

boring i know, but got to agree with sussex again.

the t&g will take credit for this, however if what the drivers claim is correct, who negotiated the contract in the first place? thus causing the entire situation.

regards

captain cab