Cardiff Council’s licensing enforcement team is sending a firm message to the private hire car trade – abide by the law or we will prosecute you.
This follows two recent prosecutions in the last two weeks, with the latest against Imran Nawaz at Cardiff Magistrates Court on March 6. Mr Nawaz pleaded guilty to two offences of plying for hire illegally and was fined £135, a further £200 for breach to his insurance, 6 points on his licence and ordered to pay £75 in costs.
Cllr Gretta Marshall, Chairperson of the Public Protection Committee at Cardiff Council, said “Recent claims have been made that the Council isn’t taking enforcement action against private hire cars who are plying for trade illegally. These two recent prosecutions show otherwise and licensing officers will continue to carry out sting operations to catch these drivers.
“The Council is working very hard with the taxi trade to improve communications through the taxi forum, which gives private hire and hackney carriage drivers the opportunity to engage and voice their concerns. By working together, we hope to improve the services provided to both residents and visitors to our city.
“Our message to the customers is please do not try to flag down private hire drivers from the street, in the majority of cases their insurance cover doesn’t allow this, so if you get into an accident, you are not covered.”
