Watford

A taxi company owner who unlawfully employed an unlicensed driver and car has been found guilty and fined £700.

Following complaints made to Watford Borough Council, the council’s Licensing Enforcement Officer booked a car from Amber Cars, The Brow, Watford, to pick up a customer from Watford General Hospital in March this year.

It was discovered that the driver and car were licensed by Hertsmere Borough Council, but not Watford Borough Council, meaning that they were both unlicensed to work for Amber Cars. The council had therefore not had the opportunity to check that driver had the correct authorisation to work in this role and that the car was suitable and safe for passengers.

Further investigation showed that since Mr Sheikh Mussarat Hussain took over the company in November 2012, Amber Cars had been cautioned not to employ drivers licensed by another local authority. He was at this time also the owner of Heath Cars in Bushey who the driver and car were employed by.

On November 4, Mr Hussain appeared at Watford Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to charges of operating an unlicensed vehicle and driver. Mr Hussain was fined £700 and ordered to pay £300 costs to the council plus a £15 victim surcharge.

Councillor Keith Crout, portfolio holder with responsibility for licensing, said: "With the festive party season about to get underway, it is more important than ever that residents and visitors who use private hire firms licensed in the borough can be sure that they will get to their destination safely.

"Using drivers licensed by another council means Mr Hussain obtained an unfair economic advantage over other operators in the borough who played by the rules. It also meant that the council’s own hands would have been tied in the event of any incident or complaint, such as rudeness, taking passengers on longer routes than necessary, smoking in vehicles or more serious safety concerns involving the out-of-borough drivers.

"This is the purpose of making sure that all drivers and cars are correctly licensed. The council has invested much time and effort in ensuring that this practice ceases, including a voluntary transfer scheme to bring operators in line with the law."

Comment: Cannot help but wishing we had this Cllr here in Manchester instead of the puddin's we have got.