Private Hire Driver Pleads Guilty and Faces Fines Following Court Proceedings
On 5 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-private-hire-in-hyndburn/