Council swoop on illegal pick-ups

14-AUG-09

Issued by: Jeanette Hedley

Magistrates have fined drivers of two private hire vehicles that picked up test customers in a North Tyneside Council clampdown.

Under national legislation private hire vehicles cannot ply for hire or stand at a taxi rank to attract business. They can only take customers who have booked in advance through the driver's licensed operator.

This differs from the rules for taxis, who under their Hackney Carriage Licence can be hailed in the street and pick up customers from a taxi rank.

In February this year the council employed two officers from a neighbouring authority to carry out 'test purchasing' on private hire vehicles.

The volunteers were asked to approach private hire vehicles to see if they would agree to them using the vehicle without having first made an advance booking.

In separate hearings at North Shields magistrates court two drivers were each fined £100, with £150 costs and an additional £15 victim surcharge after pleading guilty to plying for hire without a licence.

- On February 26, Stephen John Murray, 36, of 4 Ferngrove, Jarrow was parked on a taxi rank outside Whitley Bay metro Station, Station Square, Whitley Bay when the volunteers approached him. He was asked whether he could take them to the Magnesia Bank Public House in North Shields. He was paid £6 for the journey.
- On February 28, Stephen John McLennan, 43, of 3a St George's Road, Cullercoats was seen dropping off passengers on Front Street, Tynemouth. He was approached by the volunteers and agreed to take them to a destination in Whitley Bay.
Both drivers operated for East Coast Taxis and it was confirmed in both instances that neither journey had been pre-booked.

Colin Macdonald, North Tyneside Councils Consumer Protection Manager said: " It is in the interest of the safety of members of the public who use taxis and private hire vehicles that we ensure that all drivers are operating within the law.

" The recent test-purchasing scheme demonstrated that in a minority of instances that was not happening and as the drivers learned to their cost this can result in a prosecution and a court penalty."

Both drivers will now appear before the Council's Regulation and Review Committee to consider their suitability to hold a licence.

The council has confirmed that further similar exercises are planned in the borough.