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Hundreds caught in Taxi
Enforcement operations
TAXI licensing officials in Liverpool
have issued scores of cautions and defect notices to Private Hire and Hackney
drivers over the last month, in a bid to improve standards and enforce the law.
Operations by Council Officers and Merseyside Police have identified drivers
from:- Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley and Wirral who were committing a range of
offences.
A total of 14 drivers were fined a total of ₤4,655, at Liverpool Magistrates
Court, on Thursday, 26 October 2017, for offences including tyre defects, trying to pick
up passengers who had not booked and driving without insurance.
In addition, 118 vehicle defect notices and 57 cautions have been issued for
offences such as cherry picking, parking a Private Hire on a Hackney Taxi stand,
having an illegal tyre and not having their plates firmly fixed on; while a
further 7 vehicles were ordered off the road immediately. And 160 fixed
penalty notices have been issued to the drivers of private cars who parked
illegally on Taxi Stands, taking up space meant for Hackneys.
2 other drivers; 1 private Hire and 1 Hackney; have had their licences
revoked for drug related offences.
Councillor Christine Banks, Chair of the Licensing Committee, said:- "We
want to make sure that our taxi industry is fair, and we are determined to crack
down on those drivers who are flouting the rules. Our aim is to make the playing
field for all drivers as level as it can be. Unfortunately, there are a very
small minority who breach regulations, and we are committed to taking action and
in doing so, send a clear message out that it is not acceptable. Passengers
should always ensure they only use properly Licensed Taxis or pre-book Private
Hire vehicles, otherwise they are placing themselves in danger."
The prosecutions are part of a series of measures being undertaken by the
Council and Police to crackdown on taxi and private hire drivers breaking the
law.
The Council works with Police Officers who have been through a specialist Taxi
Licensing course to help them spot vehicles that aren't compliant with the law.
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