Disqualified private hire driver fined for lack of appropriate licence

AN unemployed Luton man has been fined £240 after being found guilty of driving a private hire vehicle without an appropriate local authority licence or insurance.

Luton magistrates heard on Friday 2 October how Yasir Masood, aged 35 years, of Connaught Road, Luton, was seen by a Luton Borough Council licensing officer driving his Central Bedfordshire licensed vehicle in Luton town centre on November 6 of last year, after his private hire driver’s licence had been revoked by both authorities.

Masood, who the court was told is currently disqualified from driving for totting, had his licence further endorsed with six penalty points and was additionally ordered to pay Luton Council’s total costs of £750, to be repaid at £5 per week from his job seekers allowance.

Cllr Don Worlding, Chair of Luton Borough Council’s Administration and Regulation Committee, said: “This case proves that Luton Borough Council takes its private hire licensing and enforcement responsibilities extremely seriously in order to protect the travelling public, and we will not hesitate in prosecuting where offences come to our attention.”