Private hire driver found GUILTY of using an UNLICENSED vehicle for school pickup contract

A private hire driver who had a contract to transport children to and from a special school has been found guilty of using a vehicle that was not licensed to carry passengers.

Mr Hedley Flint Hill used his vehicle to pick up passengers from four locations and take them to the school in Alfreton in January 2020 even though it was not a licensed private hire vehicle and had no insurance.

Mr Hill pleaded guilty at Derby Magistrates Court and was issued with a £700 fine, £330 costs, £70 victim surcharge and six points on his licence.

The investigation started after an on-the-spot inspection of the vehicle was carried out on 29 January 2020 by our officers who noted that the licence had expired. When questioned to see if he knew the licence had expired Mr Hill stated he did, but carried on taking bookings.

Cabinet Member responsible for Licensing, Councillor Deborah Watson said: “This is a very serious matter. Public safety is of paramount importance and for a private hire vehicle operator to know their licence has expired and carry on using the vehicle is simply not acceptable."

Mr Hill claimed that the vehicle was booked in for an inspection on the day of the booking and that he had contacted the contracting organisation to say he was not charging them for the journey. When the vehicle was subsequently inspected by the Council’s MOT testers it was found to be in a dangerous and unroadworthy condition.

Councillor Watson said: “Mr Hill continued to drive a vehicle that was unroadworthy and uninsured and put the lives of vulnerable people and other road users at risk.

“This should serve as a warning to others that we take our responsibilities very seriously and we will take appropriate action to those flouting the law and endangering people’s lives.”