Taxi Driver Online

Well this seems a bit harsh and over the top. Couldn't they have dealt with this in some other way, despite the several warnings he had?

Of course, there's maybe more to it than meets the eye, but as portrayed here it certainly seems way over the top


Private Hire Driver Pleads Guilty and Faces Fines Following Court Proceedings

https://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/news/priv ... oceedings/

On 5th October, an Accrington private hire driver entered a plea of guilty at Burnley Magistrates Court to the offence of using a private hire vehicle without displaying a private hire plate.

The Defendant admitted to using the vehicle as a private hire vehicle whilst not exhibiting the plate in the manner prescribed by the Council, contrary to the legislation which requires all licensed vehicles to display a plate issued by the Council on the back of the vehicle at all times.

A spokesperson for Hyndburn Borough Council said:

“The Council take public safety very seriously and it is important that all licensed vehicles are displaying the correct signage at all times to ensure that members of the public can be satisfied that they are getting into a properly licensed vehicle. We would like to extend a warm thanks to everyone involved in seeing justice with this case and we implore the other licensed drivers of Hyndburn to heed this case as a sign that we don’t take these matters lightly – we are committed to the safety of our residents.”

The driver had been spoken to on a previous occasion and warned about not displaying the correct signage on his vehicle. Despite this, the licensing enforcement officer observed the vehicle on another occasion when it was not displaying the licence plate or any other signage.

The Defendant was fined £333 and ordered to pay £133 victim surcharge and £265 costs.

More information about Taxi and Private Hire guidelines, including legislation about licensing matters and the safety requirements of these vehicles, can be found at: https://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/taxi-and- ... -hyndburn/

This is the official council press release, but had a quick read of the rehash in the Lancs Telegraph. It's all pretty straight bat, but they've replaced the word 'observed' with 'clocked'

Fair enough going for a bit of originality, and not slavishly following the workaday churnalism template. But, I mean, 'clocked' in a serious newspaper report?

Interesting many of our local drivers (hackney plated) remove their toplight and license plate (velcro) when not in use so that the vehicle isn't an obvious target for thieves because in certain areas of Peterborough parked taxis get targetted. They often arrive and pull up on the rank and then attach the plate and toplight. I presume the vehicles are never used without the toplight and plate but you have to wonder if this means they could potentially fall foul of the R & Rs.

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

I'm guessing the driver here was *working* without a plate and other signage, Edders. Maybe some kind of executive service, but the council here perhaps don't have any exemption scheme for such vehicles in terms of displaying a plate.

Of course, rules like this quite routinely broken, I'd guess, and certainly not unusual here for drivers to take their rooflight off. But, of course, if they're ranking then the rooflight is back on. Not sure if that conforms to the rules or not, but doubt anyone is really bothered as long as they're not ranking without a rooflight.

Who knows, though, and difficult to assess without knowing the nuts and bolts of what actually happened in the Accrington case

I suspect this fella has been told a number of times to display his plate, but didn't.

Many councils would just revoke his license for repeated breaches.

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IDFIMH