Penalties For Taxi Drivers

An East Herts taxi driver faces losing his licence after his vehicle was discovered to be missing basic safety equipment when he was stopped by inspectors.

The driver was caught last week by council staff and police who had teamed up to check vehicles in Hertford and Ware. He had no fire extinguisher or first aid kit and wasn't wearing his driver badge.

He will now have to attend a licensing committee meeting where councillors will discuss the breaches and decide whether to revoke his licence.

Four other taxi drivers were also given points under the council's licensing point system for breaches of not wearing badges, not having fire extinguishers and another was spotted with a large crack in his windscreen. The window was due to be replaced at the weekend, after which the vehicle will be checked again.

Any driver who amasses more than 12 points is taken before the council's licensing committee for their licence to be considered.

A total of 14 vehicles were selected to be stopped.