FAKE TAXI DRIVER: Unlicensed private hire driver convicted and fined after Taxi Cop test purchase sting
- Perry Richardson
- 2 days ago
- 1 min read
A man posing as a licensed private hire driver has been convicted and fined following a test purchase operation by Avon and Somerset Police.
The action was led by PC Patrick Quinton, also known locally as the ‘Taxi Cop’. He acted after receiving a tip-off from a member of the public in February. The informant had discovered that a driver they had used was not properly licensed.
Police arranged for an officer to book a journey with the suspected unlicensed driver. Once the journey began, officers stopped the vehicle. The man behind the wheel was charged with four offences: acting as a private hire operator without a licence, acting as a private hire driver without a licence, using an unlicensed private hire vehicle, and having no insurance.
At a Magistrates’ Court, the man was convicted and handed eight DVLA penalty points. He was also ordered to pay £1,616 in fines and court costs. A guilty plea resulted in a 30% reduction in the final penalty.
PC Quinton said cases involving unlicensed drivers are often time consuming. In this instance, the evidence made the process more straightforward.
He added that identifying and removing unlicensed drivers remains a priority due to the risks they pose to public safety.
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