Court hands PHV driver £1,280 bill and six points after Taxi Cop prosecution over illegal hire offence
- Perry Richardson
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
A private hire driver has been handed a total of nine DVLA penalty points and ordered to pay £1,280 in fines and court costs after being successfully prosecuted for illegally plying for hire following the Forwards Festival in Bristol.
The case was confirmed by PC Patrick Quinton, the dedicated Taxi Cop for Avon and Somerset Police, who provided an update on an enforcement operation carried out during last year’s festival at The Downs.
According to PC Quinton, the driver did not admit the offence at the time it was detected, resulting in the matter proceeding to court.
PC Quinton said: “Last year I told you about a driver I found illegally plying for hire following the Forwards Festival at The Downs in August and I said I would update you on the result.
“As the driver did not admit the offence at the time, the case has just gone to Court, and the SGC PHD was sentenced to 6 DVLA points, and fines/costs of £1,280.”
The court penalty comes on top of enforcement action already taken at the roadside. PC Quinton explained that the driver had previously received three DVLA penalty points and a £100 fixed penalty after one of the vehicle’s tyres was found to be worn down to the ply and cords, representing a serious road safety defect.
The combined penalties mean the driver has accumulated nine DVLA penalty points from the incident, alongside financial penalties totalling £1,380.
PC Quinton confirmed that the case will now be referred to the relevant South Gloucestershire Council licensing authority for consideration of any further regulatory action against the driver’s private hire licence.
Under taxi and private hire legislation, licensed private hire vehicles must be pre-booked through a licensed operator and cannot legally pick up passengers from the street or ranks without a booking. Convictions for plying for hire can also have wider licensing consequences, with licensing authorities able to review whether a driver remains a fit and proper person to hold a licence.
