A taxi driver who was caught breaking the law during a Trafford Council licensing enforcement operation has been fined in court.
 
Mosaraf Hossain, a private hire driver licensed by Manchester City Council, pleaded guilty to two offences - picking up a fare without a booking and driving without insurance - at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court.
 
Mr Hossain, who has been a taxi driver for the last five years, was fined £133 for the first offence, £400 for the second, ordered to pay prosecution costs of £625 and a victim surcharge of £40. He was also given six points on his driving licence.
 
Mr Hossain, aged 54, of Russell Road, Whalley Range, Manchester, was one of a number of drivers that were caught out as part of a licensing enforcement operation after the Manchester United home game versus Barcelona on Wednesday April 10, 2019. He agreed to take two council enforcement staff, posing as customers, to Deansgate for £15.  His insurance was invalidated by the fact that the fare had not been booked via a licensed operator. The council checks on that day were part of a series of on-going operations, mounted in response to the problem of illegal plying for hire on match days.
 
Councillor Mike Freeman, Trafford Council’s  Executive Member for Public Safety, Governance and Reform, said

“In addition to being an expensive lesson for Mr Hossain, whereby it has cost him nearly £1200, this prosecution should send a message to others tempted to flout the rules for short term gain. Private hire drivers caught in this way face prosecution and will be referred to the Council issuing their licence which means they also face the prospect of having their licence revoked.”