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A private hire driver was fined hundreds of pounds for illegally picking up passengers in the city.

Imran Shahzad, 29, of 120 Copenhagen Close, Luton, was discovered during an operation run by Milton Keynes Council’s taxi licensing department and Thames Valley Police in December.

He pleaded not guilty and appeared at Milton Keynes Magistrates court claiming he took the fare from outside Oceana night club in central Milton Keynes by mistake thinking it was his pre-booked fare.

The court heard that two undercover officers acting as test purchasers asked if he was free to take them to Jury’s Inn at the Hub, central Milton Keynes and he
agreed to do this in contravention of his licence.

Magistrates found him guilty of Plying For Hire contrary to Section 45 Town Police Clauses Act which invalidated his car insurance( contrary to Section 143 Road Traffic Act 1988) and he failed to provide proof of insurance contrary to section 50(4) Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.

He was fined a total of £705 with £840 Costs and eight penalty points were endorsed on his driving licence.

Shahzad, who was licensed to operate a private hire service in South Northants area, was found plying for hire as a result of a joint test purchasing clampdown in Milton Keynes.

A private hire vehicle cannot pick people up without a pre-booked job obtained through their registered operator; unlike black taxi cabs that can be hailed down from the street or found at a taxi rank.

Alan Broomfield, an enforcement officer with the council’s taxi licensing department, said: “The council has had to take action to stop this practice which has not only safety issues for the passengers but is also harmful to local taxi firms that are going about their business in a legal way.”