Court convicts out-of-area taxi driver for illegal plying with light on after Manchester United fixture

A taxi driver licensed by Manchester City Council has been convicted of illegally plying-for-hire in Trafford following an undercover enforcement operation after a Manchester United fixture at Old Trafford.

Manchester Magistrates’ Court found Mr Guru Fatay Ronuk Singh, 44, guilty of plying for hire without insurance after he was stopped by Trafford Council licensing officers on Sunday 19 January last year. The offence took place shortly after Manchester United’s 3-1 defeat to Brighton, when demand for taxis in the area was high.

Under Trafford’s licensing regime, only Hackney Carriage drivers licensed by Trafford Council are permitted to pick up passengers who hail a taxi within the borough. Drivers licensed by other authorities may only undertake pre-booked private hire work and are not permitted to ply for hire. Any such activity also invalidates insurance cover.

Officers observed Mr Singh parked in a bus stop on Chester Road with his ‘for hire’ sign illuminated. Posing as customers, the undercover officers asked to be taken into Manchester city centre. Once the journey began, they identified themselves and instructed him to pull over.

Manchester-licensed driver fined and handed six penalty points after undercover operation near Old Trafford

Mr Singh was licensed by Manchester City Council at the time. During a subsequent interview, he acknowledged using his ‘for hire’ sign to attract customers but suggested he had forgotten to turn it off on this occasion. He admitted he had made what he described as “a very big boo boo”.

The court imposed a £180 fine, alongside a £48 victim surcharge and £180 in costs. Mr Singh also received six penalty points on his driving licence.

Join us on WhatsApp here
Trafford Council has previously stated that enforcement activity around major events forms part of its wider compliance strategy aimed at protecting passengers and ensuring a level playing field for locally licensed Hackney Carriage drivers.

Cllr Rose Thompson, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Communities and Safety, said:

“This is an example of a wider problem on matchdays with drivers from other areas illegally looking for fares and this court prosecution shows our officers are watching and will take action.

“Only Hackney Carriages licensed by Trafford Council are permitted to pick up fares without a booking and by doing so Mr Singh committed the offence of illegally plying for hire and in doing so invalidated his insurance.

“Trafford’s Hackney Carriage drivers work hard to provide transport for those who need it in the borough. This type of behaviour puts public safety at risk and is illegal. Our licensing enforcement team members work to support drivers who follow the rules properly and to make sure passengers ride safely with insurance in place.”