LICENCE REVOKED: Taxi driver caught operating unlicensed vehicle to Birmingham Airport

A licensed taxi driver operating an unlicensed vehicle as part of an airport transfers service has had his licence revoked.

The driver, Chris Taylor, faced legal repercussions for operating the unlicensed and uninsured vehicle.

Appearing before Leicester Magistrates’ Court on 17 January 2024, Taylor admitted to his offences. The court subsequently imposed a fine of £276 and added eight penalty points to his driving licence for the no-insurance offence. Additionally, Taylor was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £110 and cover £750 in costs to the Council, bringing the total penalty to £1,136.

The case against Taylor was initiated by Blaby District Council’s licensing team following an anonymous complaint in March 2023. The complaint alleged that Taylor, an already licensed taxi driver, was not using his licensed vehicle for customer trips.

Operating under the business name 'Airports 4 U', Taylor was found to be accepting bookings and using a vehicle that lacked the necessary taxi licence, rendering his insurance void.

A critical piece of evidence emerged from Birmingham Airport’s Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, which identified Taylor visiting the airport in an unlicensed taxi on 9 May 2023. Following up, the Council contacted the passengers, who confirmed the details of their booking with Taylor. This information confirmed Taylor's use of an unlicensed and uninsured vehicle for taxi operations.

Taylor's taxi driver licence, held with the Council, was revoked in June 2023. The Council concluded that Taylor was no longer a fit and proper person to hold a taxi driver licence. Following the revocation, the Council proceeded with prosecution through their legal representatives, Oadby and Wigston Legal.

Councillor Les Phillimore, Blaby District Council Portfolio Holder for Housing, Community and Environmental Services, said: "The vehicle Taylor was using may not have been mechanically safe for the passengers, as well as not having the appropriate vehicle insurance for taxi and private hire journeys. Licensed taxis not only require an MoT but are also tested twice a year at the Council’s Depot to ensure they are roadworthy. Had there been an accident the passengers would not have been insured, making the offence even more serious.

"We are determined to protect the public and aim to ensure only fit and proper persons are licensed by the Council. Appropriate enforcement action will be taken when people break the law. This kind of flagrant flouting of licensing rules will not be tolerated. We want to reassure the public and existing taxi and private hire operators that we will enforce against rogue operators when complaints are received."