Avon and Somerset Police issues 40 tickets during Bristol taxi rank enforcement operation
- Perry Richardson
- 4 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Avon and Somerset Police issued around 40 penalty notices during a taxi and private hire vehicle enforcement operation in Bristol aimed at keeping taxi ranks and waiting areas clear for licensed drivers.
PC Patrick Quinton, the force’s dedicated taxi officer, said the activity was carried out alongside Bristol City Council parking officers, with a focus on preventing unauthorised vehicles from occupying taxi ranks and designated PHV waiting locations.
Offences recorded during the operation included parking on taxi ranks, failing to wear a seatbelt, parking in controlled areas, stopping on pedestrian crossings and more serious breaches such as no vehicle tax and no insurance.
The checks extended beyond parking compliance, with officers also inspecting vehicles for so-called ghost plates, illegal or altered number plates used to evade enforcement. No ghost plates were identified during the operation.
Operation with council officers targets illegal parking, compliance failures and vehicle documentation
Police said the action forms part of ongoing efforts to support licensed taxi and private hire drivers by ensuring fair access to ranks and lawful waiting spaces, while also addressing wider road safety and vehicle compliance issues.
Further joint enforcement activity is expected as police and council officers continue to respond to complaints from the trade and manag the misuse of taxi infrastructure across the city.
PC Patrick Quinton, Taxi Cop for Avon and Somerset Police, said: “I was working with BCC Parking Officers again trying to keep the ranks clear for taxi drivers. We also did some enforcement in other places to try and clear them for PHV's to use to wait for their next job.
“We issued around 40 tickets for parking on a taxi rank, failing to wear seatbelt, parking in a controlled area, No tax, No insurance and parking on a pedestrian crossing.
“As well as the usual issues, I was also checking for Ghost plates, and thankfully found none.”
