6/11/2006

Crawley Borough Council has successfully prosecuted a private hire driver for trying to pick up passengers outside County Mall.

Nizar Baccar of Maidenbower in Crawley was found guilty of plying for hire and illegally parking on a hackney carriage stand at a hearing at Mid Sussex Magistrates' Court on Friday, November 3. He was fined £600 with costs of £2,500.

Angela Tanner, Head of Environmental Services at Crawley Council, said: "Mr Baccar is licensed as a private hire driver with Mole Valley District Council and as such is only allowed to take passengers to a pre-booked destination. Only Crawley hackney carriage operators can be hailed and pick up passengers from our streets.

"Any passengers carried unlawfully in a private hire vehicle will not be covered by insurance in the event of an accident.

"We ensure that Crawley hackney carriages and private hire drivers are provided to the highest standards and we want to make sure that other private hire drivers understand the rules and know that the Council will take action if they break them."

ends

Mark Robinson.

Tel: 01293 438717 Email: mark.robinson@crawley.gov.uk