Edward Arthur Hollingwortth of Melton Mowbray, has been prosecuted for a second time by Melton Borough Council for two offences of operating as a taxi driver without a driver's licence and operating as a taxi driver without a vehicle licence. Mr Hollingworth failed, for the second time, to respond to the prosecution and was convicted by the Magistrates Court in the absence of a plea.
The Director for Governance and Regulatory Services said: “The purpose of taxi and private hire licensing is to protect the travelling public.
"Passengers and other road users need to be safe and driving a vehicle without valid insurance places other at risk –the Council takes this very seriously.”
Mr Hollingworth was fined £220 for each of the offences, which took place earlier this year.
He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and prosecution costs of £650.00 - a total of £1,120. The Director for Governance and Regulatory Services went on to say: "Licensing taxi drivers who are working in our district help us keep our residents safe.
"Members of the public have a right to expect that the taxis working in our district are properly licensed and that a licensed driver has been found to be a fit and proper person.
"This prosecution should send a clear message that the Council takes its responsibility seriously and will prosecute unlicensed drivers for ignoring the law."
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