A private hire driver who was fined after driving carelessly in a “souped-up BMW” has been granted a taxi licence.
According to GlasgowLive, Glasgow’s licensing committee warned Sohail Nasir but agreed to allow him to drive taxis in the city — despite an objection from Police Scotland.
An officer said the force believed the applicant is “not a fit and proper person” to hold a licence following his conviction for an incident in 2023.
A representative for Mr Nasir told councillors that the charge, initially dangerous driving, had been amended by the court to careless driving.
She said Mr Nasir had driven at “excessive speeds” and was punished with three penalty points and a £270 fine. He had negotiated two corners quickly, she added.
The committee was told the applicant was driving his brother’s “souped-up BMW” at the time, which he believes “drew attention to the police”.
His representative said an unmarked police car approached his vehicle.
“He foolishly drove too fast round the corner when the unmarked police car was following him and he was stopped by a marked police car,” she added.
“He fully accepts that he should not have driven in that fashion and that’s why he pleaded guilty to the offence.”
She said the driver was “so apologetic” and three penalty points was “at the lower end of the scale, but that is in no way meant to mitigate it”.
“Careless driving for a private hire driver of eight years experience is not good enough, but I’m hoping I can convince the committee that it won’t be a barrier to granting the taxi licence that he’s applied for today.”
Cllr Alex Wilson, SNP, who chairs the licensing committee, said the driver “should know how to conduct himself and how to drive” regardless of the car.
“It’s his livelihood so he should take exceptional care of his own livelihood,” he added. “It’s foolish, there’s no doubt about that.”
Source: https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/man-fined-careless-driving-souped-29305993
There has been a significant decrease in the number of registered drivers and vehicles in Erewash Borough since the pandemic, the council reports.
NottinghamshireLive reports that Erewash Borough Council is now seeking to make changes to spur an increase.
It says there are now 67 fewer drivers, 41 fewer hackney carriages and 26 fewer private hire vehicles since March 2020.
This represents a 26 per cent decrease in drivers (258 to 191), 24 per cent drop in hackney carriages (170 to 129) and 43 per cent drop in private hire vehicles (60 to 34) in the borough.
The council says it has received new applications from drivers seeking to be licensed in Erewash but not in sufficient numbers to return the trade to pre-pandemic numbers.
As a result the council is seeing less income for both applications and the relevant fees owed to maintain both.
The council says there has been an increasing number of drivers operating in Erewash, under licences issued by other authorities, who are competing directly with those registered in the borough. It says this is not unlawful and is within regulations, providing the sub-contracting arrangements by operators have been carried out correctly.
The council says a “minority” of drivers previously registered in Erewash have chosen to obtain a licence elsewhere while continuing to work in the borough. It says: “It is a matter for individual local authorities to determine their own taxi licensing policies and procedures using statutory and best practice guidance issued by the DfT.
“These local arrangements can, however, create disparities between local authorities in areas such as application fees, licence conditions and licensing procedures. Within this competitive arena, private hire operators may, if they wish, take advantage of lower application fees, and less restrictive licensing practices offered by other councils to obtain their licences.”
The council is now looking to make itself “more competitive in the marketplace to encourage new drivers seeking to enter the taxi trade in Erewash to apply for their licences from the council”.
It is now looking to allow vehicles used for taxis to be up to 12 years old, an increase from 10 years. Meanwhile, a WAV can remain in use up until it becomes 15 years old, up from 12 years.
The council currently requires two mechanical inspections per year for vehicles aged up to eight years and three per year for those aged between eight and 10 (excluding the MOT).
This would be changed to vehicles aged up to five years requiring one mechanical inspection per year and vehicles over five years old requiring two inspections per year.
The council says: “Members are advised that the council would incur loss of income if the number of taxi inspections carried out at the depot were to reduce.
“It is the case however that a less onerous vehicle testing regime would be advantageous to drivers, vehicle owners and proprietors and, within the wider context of an increasingly competitive taxi licensing environment, could incentivise more drivers to apply for their vehicle licences with the council rather than another licensing authority. The expectation would be that, over time, initial income losses would be offset by an increase in vehicles and drivers licensed by the council.”
The council says the number of WAVs registered in the borough has dropped from 37 to just seven since 2019. A low emission discount for more environmentally friendly vehicles is currently operated by the council but this would be changed to apply to electric vehicles only, with the authority currently losing £9,000 a year on the discount but could make £9,000 per annum with the change.
Meanwhile, five years on from the introduction of a policy to ban heavily tinted windows in taxis, opposed by many in the Erewash taxi trade, the council is now set to relax its policy. The council currently allows a 25 per cent tint on the windscreen and 30 per cent tint on the side windows (front and rear) and rear window.
This would be tweaked to allow manufacturer-issued tinting for the rear side windows and rear window. That recommendation is made despite opposition from Derbyshire County Council which said maximum visibility was preferred for transport of vulnerable children and adults – 2,000 of which use taxis in the county.
The police had formed a major part of the tinting policy being strengthened in 2019 due to taxis being tied to child sexual exploitation, grooming and human trafficking.
A council report says the police cannot provide data for crimes committed by licensed taxi drivers or a passenger or third party; and cannot confirm if reported crimes was associated to vehicles fitted with or without tinted windows.
It says: “There is no substantive evidence to confirm if the tinted windows policy has made a difference to the incidence of reported crimes involving licensed taxis or to the safety of passengers who are vulnerable adults or children.
Meanwhile, the council says it will not be mandating that taxis must have CCTV cameras, due to this adding a “significant additional regulatory burden”.
Source: https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/erewash-council-trying-attract-cabbies-9329371
A Milford Haven taxi company has been fined £1,000 for not identifying a driver who was alleged to have committed an offence.
It was alleged that the driver of a Seat Alhambra, belonging to Elite Taxis Ltd, had committed an offence in the Avon and Somerset Police force area.
The Western Telegraph reports that the company was charged with failing to give information relating to the identification of the driver of a vehicle when required.
The offence was proved using the single justice procedure at Bath Magistrates’ Court on May 16.
Elite Taxis Ltd was fined £1,000, and was also ordered to pay a £400 surcharge and £90 in costs.
The moment an Edinburgh taxi ploughed into a set of traffic lights and another vehicle after the driver stopped to help a passenger has been caught on camera.
EdinburghLive reports that the bizarre incident unfolded on the city's Comiston Road on Tuesday afternoon, June 4, as the taxi left a trail of destruction behind with a traffic light pole completely flattened and another car damaged.
One eye witness recorded footage shortly after the incident took place as three police vehicles can be seen at the side of the road with officers picking up parts of debris.
A white car can be seen with damage to the rear bumper and a metal pole is lying on the pavement.
A black cab is then spotted at the side of the road with the driver helping a passenger out of the vehicle.
The damaged traffic lights and signs can be seen in a big pile on the pavement with several officers involved in the cleanup.
A spokesperson for the force has since confirmed no injuries were reported and no crime was committed.
It is understood the vehicle continued rolling down the street as the handbrake wasn't correctly applied.
A TikTok user filming the aftermath then pans to the front of the taxi with its front bumper and number plate hanging off.
Approaching the collision, the user, @ed_in_burgh, commented: "Look at this. Apparently the taxi driver stopped to pick up a passenger and got out to help them in and the taxi rolled down the street by itself.
"It crashed into everything, knocked over the crosswalk pole here and another pole.
"Oh wow it took out a traffic light, the cops are helping with the road cleanup - that's not something you get in the States."
North East Lincolnshire Council’s licensing team and Humberside Police have carried out a joint operation, spot checking sixteen random taxis.
Drivers were checked, alongside the condition of their vehicle, as well as their licence, insurance, tyres, lights and vehicle tax.
Licensing teams checked all drivers and general condition of the vehicles while Humberside Police checked the vehicles condition, tyres, and lights. The following issues were found during the inspections on the evening of Saturday, 25 May:
The council’s licensing team carries out roadside spot checks throughout the year to make sure licensed vehicles are roadworthy and meet the required standards.
Ways of increasing the amount of wheelchair-accessible taxis across the city are set to be explored to make it easier for those who need one to get one.
Cumbrian taxi drivers are fighting back against proposed licensing changes they fear will cripple their livelihoods.
Bolton taxi drivers are urged to sign up for free safeguarding and disability awareness training before the deadline on October 31st, 2024.
A Conwy Council meeting on Monday revealed a critical failing that allowed a taxi driver whose license had been revoked to continue transporting children to school.
Worcester City Council is seeking public opinion on a proposal to make safeguarding training mandatory for taxi and private hire drivers.
A proposal to increase driver, vehicle and private hire operator licences was discussed on Friday 19 July 19 at Sheffield City Council’s waste and street scene committee.
Through this collaboration, FREENOW willl provide additional benefits giving drivers up to 25% off pay-as-you-go rates across the entire bp pulse electric charging network and discounted fuel at all UK bp branded sites.
Wakefield Licensing, working alongside West Yorks Police Roads Policing unit, NPT, Off-Road Bike Team, Police Intercept Team, DVLA & DVSA, held a Partnership Day of Action at Thornes Park.
A pilot emissions reduction grant scheme providing financial support for hackney carriage drivers to upgrade to cleaner EURO 6 and fully battery powered vehicles has been launched.
The ride-hailing giant has submitted an application for an operator licence to Darlington Borough Council, with a decision expected in August.
Darlington could soon see Uber cars on its streets after the ride-hailing giant applied for a licence to operate in the town.
Stratford-upon-Avon District Council has revoked the licences of two taxi drivers following a series of speeding offences.
A Northampton taxi driver has been found guilty of trafficking cocaine between his home city and Milford Haven.
The move comes after concerns were raised by the taxi industry about the rising cost of purchasing new vehicles.
Guide Dogs charity has asked licensing authorities in England for their support in sharing guidance on the law on carrying guide or other assistance dogs with all taxi and private hire operators.
Reading Taxi Association (RTA) chairman Asif Rashid has slammed Reading Borough Council's proposed phase-out of older petrol and diesel cabs by 2028, calling it a financial burden for drivers.
Dorset Council is poised to review taxi fares across the region, excluding Weymouth and Portland which have separate regulations.
A North Belfast man, Ruairi Fintan Muldoon (31), has been sentenced to 12 months in prison with an additional 12 months on supervised release for a botched attempt to rob a taxi driver.
Passengers are been invited to take part in a survey aimed at finding out if the taxi trade in West Suffolk is accessible to all.
A Glasgow man, Darren Gray, 31, launched into a verbal tirade and racially abused a taxi driver on Paisley Road West on August 19th, 2022.