Mammoth roadside taxi and private hire check operation in York leads to multiple suspensions and safety warnings
- Perry Richardson
- Oct 13
- 2 min read
Taxi and private hire drivers operating in and around York were subjected to a series of roadside checks on Saturday 11 October, with several vehicles suspended from service and multiple safety issues identified.
The joint operation involved North Yorkshire Police’s Road Safety Team, Special Constables from York, DVSA officials, and taxi licensing teams from York, Leeds and Bradford. The checks formed part of the build-up to the wider Dark Nights campaign, which focuses on protecting vulnerable road users as the evenings draw in and driving conditions worsen.
A total of 24 taxis were inspected. Of these, 18 were licensed in Bradford, 4 in Leeds and just 2 in York. All other vehicles checked were private hire vehicles.
Throughout he operation 10 vehicles passed without issue, 7 were suspended from operating for the rest of the evening due to safety concerns. A further 7 were issued with advice for minor problems. The DVSA issued four immediate prohibitions and five delayed ones, indicating significant faults that required urgent attention.
Alongside taxi-related enforcement, North Yorkshire Police issued 23 tickets to a mix of taxi and private vehicle drivers. Offences included the misuse of fog lights, faulty or incorrect number plates, tyre defects, and using vehicles in a dangerous or improperly registered condition.
Officers are reminding all professional drivers of their responsibility to ensure vehicles are roadworthy and compliant with licensing standards, especially ahead of winter.
Traffic Constable Matthew Harvey, Road Safety Officer, said: “This operation is not a one-off. Officers will continue to ensure that vehicles travelling in North Yorkshire are roadworthy, especially taxis. Public safety is our priority, and we’re committed to making sure that those who rely on taxis can do so with confidence.”
