A taxi driver from Stratford District has been fined for overcharging passengers by Nuneaton Magistrates Court after the High Court overruled a previous decision by Stratford Magistrates Court.
Mr Dyde of Goose Lane, Lower Quinton was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £1,000 of the Councils costs after being found guilty of overcharging on a 'test purchase' journey made by the District Council's Licensing Officers in March 2008.
He was found to be in breach of licensing laws after undertaking a journey in a Hackney Carriage and knowingly charging more than the metered fare would have been; and for driving a Hackney Carriage on a journey with fare-paying passengers without switching on the meter to show the fare, contrary to the By-laws.
Councillor Simon Jackson, Environment Portfolio said: "The District Council takes incidents of this sort very seriously. The public must be able to feel confident that any licensed car that they use is safe, fully insured, driven by a licensed driver who has been vetted by the Council who will behave in a genuine manner. We are therefore very pleased that this prosecution has been successful and hope that it will deter others.
"Our licensing team has an important role to play in ensuring both Hackney Carriage and private hire drivers are operating in a responsible way to ensure the public are protected. The team regularly carries out inspections to ensure drivers are meeting legislative requirements and we will continue to crack down on any drivers who flout the law whilst protecting the public from illegal practices."
