Out-of-area private hire driver found guilty and fined over £3,000 for illegal street pickup in York
- Perry Richardson
- 24 minutes ago
- 2 min read
An out-of-area private hire driver has been fined after unlawfully picking up passengers from the street without a booking.
Zaid Saleem, aged 58, who holds private hire licences with both Wolverhampton and Leeds Councils, was ordered to pay £3,326 by York Magistrates Court after admitting to the offence.
Saleem, who drives for ‘Drive Private Hire’, accepted a street pickup near York Racecourse in May 2024. Private hire drivers are only permitted to carry passengers who have booked through their licensed operator. Picking up passengers without a pre-arranged booking means the vehicle’s insurance is invalid, creating a safety risk for both passengers and other road users.
The illegal pickup was detected during a City of York Council enforcement operation on 25 May 2024. Licensing officers, posing as passengers, approached Saleem on Clock Tower Way and agreed a fare of £10 to York railway station.
Saleem pleaded guilty at York Magistrates Court on Thursday 24 April 2025. The court ordered him to pay a £90 fine, a £36 surcharge and £3,200 in costs.
Both Wolverhampton and Leeds Councils have been notified of the case outcome. They are expected to review whether Saleem remains ‘fit and proper’ to hold a private hire licence.
Cllr Jenny Kent, Executive Member for Environment at City of York Council, said: “If an unlicensed driver picks up a customer without a prior and formal booking they are not insured for the journey and are acting illegally.
“It is also important that those drivers who pay for the entitlement and license to pick up fares are protected from being undercut by those who do not.
“We will continue to investigate legitimate complaints and take appropriate legal action. Please report any taxi offences via licensing @york.gov.uk.”
