Bath private hire driver BANNED for six months after false nomination over speeding offence
- Perry Richardson
- Mar 22
- 1 min read
A private hire driver has been banned from driving for six months after admitting he falsely nominated another person following a speeding offence, according to Avon and Somerset Police.
PC Patrick Quinton, Taxi Cop for Avon and Somerset Police, said the case followed repeated warnings to drivers not to lie about traffic offences. He said: “I have been warning drivers for a long time not to lie about traffic offences.”
Police said the private hire vehicle was detected travelling at 38mph in a 30mph zone on the A38 Gloucester Road on 2 November 2024. The registered keeper nominated the driver as someone officers “did not believe existed”, Quinton said.
After the nomination was challenged, the keeper confirmed he had been the driver at the time of the offence and the case was referred to court. Quinton said: “When we challenged the nomination, he confirmed he was the driver and the matter was referred to Court.”
Avon and Somerset Police said a private hire driver was disqualified and ordered to pay £775 after initially naming a driver officers did not believe existed following a speeding detection on Bristol’s A38 Gloucester Road.
At Bath Magistrates’ Court on 3 March 2026, the driver was sentenced to £775 in fines and costs and given a six-month driving disqualification.
For the taxi and private hire trade, the ruling serves as a reminder that attempts to avoid penalty points or prosecution can lead to tougher sanctions, including loss of driving entitlement, with direct consequences for earnings and licensing status.
