Taxi Cop warns private hire drivers after uninsured roadside pickup leads to enforcement action
- Perry Richardson
- 1 day ago
- 1 min read
An Avon and Somerset Police Taxi Cop has reminded private hire drivers that accepting unbooked roadside fares can leave journeys uninsured and result in both motoring and licensing action.
PC Patrick Quinton, Taxi Cop for Avon and Somerset Police, has warned private hire drivers that accepting passengers without a pre-booking can lead to uninsured journeys and enforcement action after stopping a vehicle carrying passengers.
In a message shared following the incident, Quinton said he stopped a private hire vehicle that had picked up passengers at Parkway Station without the journey being booked beforehand.
He said: “Last night I stopped a PHV with passengers on board, having picked them up at Parkway Station. The journey was unbooked. The driver explained that he had a PHO licence, but since he had not recorded the job before commencing the journey, offences have been committed.”
Quinton added that the driver would receive a fixed penalty for driving without valid insurance for the journey. He said: “I will issue a penalty for 6 DVLA points and £300 as the journey was uninsured, and the Licensing Authority will deal with the other offences.”
Under private hire licensing rules, journeys must be accepted through a licensed operator before they begin. Unlike hackney carriages, private hire vehicles are not permitted to pick up passengers directly from the roadside without a booking being made and recorded.
Quinton concluded with a reminder to drivers: “Having a PHO licence does not mean you can pick up from the roadside with no booking recorded.”
