Out-of-area private hire driver fined for illegal Milton Keynes pick-up during council sting
- Perry Richardson
- 7 hours ago
- 1 min read
A private hire driver has been fined and given penalty points after being caught illegally picking up passengers during a council test operation.
Loay Khojali was fined £1,111 and handed six DVLA penalty points after Milton Keynes City Council officers carried out a test purchase on the High Street in Stony Stratford. Khojali approached council staff and asked if they needed a taxi, before driving them to Xscape in Milton Keynes for £15 without a pre-booking in place.
At Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court, Khojali pleaded guilty to touting, illegally plying for hire, and driving without insurance.
The offence occurred because, under private hire licensing rules, drivers are only permitted to carry passengers who have made a booking through a licensed operator. Picking up passengers directly from the street without a booking invalidates insurance and breaches licensing conditions.
Buckinghamshire Council is now reviewing Khojali’s private hire licence following the court outcome.
Cabinet member for regulatory affairs at Milton Keynes City Council, Mick Legg, said: “This case sends a clear message that we take public safety very seriously.
“Private hire drivers must follow the law and only accept pre-booked journeys.
“We’ll continue to work hard to protect residents and visitors in our city.”
