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A Sudbury-based private hire vehicle operator has been ordered by Sudbury Magistrates’ last Friday (7th November) to pay over £1000 in fines and legal costs in a successful prosecution brought by Babergh District Council.
Steve Dove of Sudbury, a licensed operator who trades under the name "Steve's Cars", was reported to Babergh for picking up passengers outside of a hotel in Lavenham in March this year in a car that did not have a vehicle licence.
According to Lee Carvell, Babergh’s Licensing Officer, this offence could have serious implications for any member of the public using the vehicle. “Before any vehicle is given a licence it is subject to thorough safety and suitability checking that involves a test more detailed than a regular MOT. Equally, driving a vehicle without the appropriate licence invalidates any existing insurance policy”.
James Buckingham, Babergh’s Principal Environmental Protection Officer explained that “the Council is determined that the process of licensing private hire vehicles will be effectively controlled. The Law and licensing processes are in place to protect the public from the use of vehicles that could be unsafe and unfit”.
“We are pleased by the outcome of this hearing as it also sends out a strong message to anyone else thinking of putting profit before the safety of passengers” added Mr Buckingham.
Mr Dove was also fined for failing to comply with licence conditions by the proper keeping of a bookings log. Pleading guilty to both offences by post, he was ordered to pay a £300 fine, £716 costs and a victim surcharge of £15.
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