CAUGHT & FINED: Unlicensed private hire driver fined after police stop vehicle carrying paying passengers
- Perry Richardson
- 10 hours ago
- 2 min read
A driver who used his vehicle to carry paying passengers without the correct private hire licence has been fined and handed penalty points after appearing before Taunton Magistrates’ Court.
The case stems from an incident in October 2024, when Avon and Somerset Police officers stopped a vehicle operating illegally in Bridgwater.
According to PC Patrick Quinton, known within the local sector as the force’s ‘Taxi Cop’, officers discovered that both the vehicle and the driver lacked the required private hire authorisation. The car was in active use at the time and had booked passengers on board. The driver was subsequently charged with having no insurance and operating without a private hire licence.
The case was brought before Taunton Magistrates on 26 November 2025. Following a guilty plea, the court imposed six DVLA penalty points, a £120 fine, £200 in costs and a £48 surcharge.
Court rules on case more than a year after officers intercepted the unlicensed operation in Somerset
The incident highlights the continuing work among police and licensing authorities around unlicensed activity within the private hire sector. Operating without the appropriate licence invalidates insurance cover for fare-paying passengers, exposing customers, road users and drivers to significant risk if an incident occurs.
Police forces across the country enforce taxi and private hire compliance, driven by safety considerations from local authorities seeking to maintain standards. Avon and Somerset Police regularly publicise successful prosecutions as part of efforts to deter unauthorised operators and reassure legitimate licence holders.
PC Quinton added that delays between offences and sentencing remain common, but that enforcement activity will continue despite extended court timelines. The force is expected to carry out further targeted checks in the region as part of its ongoing compliance work.
