October 8, 2007
Private hire driver posed as cabbie
A PRIVATE hire driver has been given six penalty points after posing as a regular cabbie to pick up a fare.
Mofizur Rahman also faced charges of driving without insurance when he appeared at Swindon Magistrates' Court.
The insurance charges were brought because, by picking up a street fare without a Hackney Carriage Licence, he breached his insurance policy.
Rahman was seen picking up a punter against the terms of his licence by a Swindon Council vehicles officer.
Rahman, from Frobisher Drive, pleaded guilty to the offence, saying that it was a foolish mistake that led to him breaking the law.
He was dropping off a legitimate fare in Henry Street on August 11 when the customers asked him to wait and take their babysitter home.
A man walking along the pavement asked the driver to drive him home and Rahman refused, saying he was waiting for a customer.
In court, the driver said that he then panicked, thinking that the man who stopped to talk to him was in fact the customer, so he reversed up the road to ask him.
He argued that the man had taken advantage of the situation by saying he was the customer but wanted to be driven to a different address from the one previously given.
Defending himself, Rahman said: "It was a foolish action and one that I apologise for.
"I should have realised it wasn't right when he asked to go somewhere else.
"I have been a private hire car driver for three years and have had an unblemished licence until this month."
Rahman explained that he was already expecting three penalty points on his driving licence after he was caught using his mobile phone at traffic lights.
Magistrates took the three points into account and decided on a further six points for driving without insurance.
Rahman, pictured above, was also given a conditional discharge of one year, meaning that if he commits another offence within 12 months he will face charges for that and the previous offence.
Chairman of the bench David Packham said: "As an experienced driver you are aware of the regulations.
"We are concerned that your decision to pick this passenger up without insurance put everyone at risk, including your passenger - a matter we take very seriously."
Rahman was ordered to pay £345 to cover court costs and legal fees.
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