Two more private hire drivers have been successfully prosecuted at MK Magistrates’ Court for illegally plying for hire (blagging).
Olusina Moses Akeem Aruna of Buckingham Gate, Eaglestone and Shahid Farooq of Luton were caught illegally picking up passengers in Milton Keynes during an early morning enforcement operation carried out by Milton Keynes Council in July last year.
Olusina Moses Akeem Aruna accepted a journey which had not been pre-booked from MK Station to Bletchley on July 5.
Further investigations showed that the vehicle used by the driver was not insured for this journey.
Mr Aruna attended Court on January 11, 2019 and pleaded guilty to plying for hire and driving without valid motor insurance on July 5, 2018.
He was fined £153 for plying for hire, £461 for invalid motor insurance, given 6 points on his DVLA licence, and also has to pay costs of £735 with a victim surcharge of £46.
Shahid Farooq accepted a journey which had not been pre-booked from Milton Keynes Station to Bletchley on 12 July 2018 at 9:25am.
He did not attend court and was found guilty in his absence to plying for hire and driving without valid motor insurance on July 12, 2018.
He was fined £220 for plying for hire, £660 for invalid motor insurance, given 6 points on his DVLA licence, and also has to pay costs of £735 with a victim surcharge of £66.
Chair of MKC’s Taxi Licensing Committee, Councillor Catriona Morris, said: “These two cases should highlight to drivers licensed by outside councils/agencies that enforcement operations are conducted during all hours in Milton Keynes and if they illegally ply for hire then they will be caught.”
“I hope that outside private hire drivers are getting the message that if they come to Milton Keynes and illegally ply for hire then the consequences for them will be severe.”
Only Hackney Carriage vehicles/drivers licensed by MK Council are allowed to pick up passengers from the roadside in Milton Keynes. Anyone with a Private Hire Licence can only pick up passengers who have pre-booked their journey.
