Unsafe taxi purge at East Midlands Airport
02.07.08
More than 40 taxis have been declared unfit for business following a crackdown by enforcement officers at East Midlands Airport. Unlicensed 'pirate' taxis, dangerously defective vehicles and even one car being illicitly run on vegetable oil were discovered during the operation.
A joint initiative by North West Leicestershire District Council, Leicestershire Police and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), saw taxis stopped randomly and the vehicles and their drivers submitted to a series of checks. Drivers were checked to see whether they were operating within the conditions of their licences and the law.
Out of 121 drivers who were stopped, 19 were found to be committing licensing or enforcement offences, two were subject to a range of 'local authority prohibitions' - meaning they were operating outside the terms of their licences - while one was unlicensed altogether.
Two drivers were found to be flouting operating times and another vehicle was seized after officers discovered it was being illegally run on vegetable oil.
Eight vehicles were deemed too dangerous to be allowed back on the road for a variety of more serious reasons, including bald and defective tyres. They were made subject to immediate prohibition notices. A further 22 vehicles were found to have minor defects.
District councillor Nicholas Rushton said: ‘This operation was designed to make sure unlicensed and dangerous taxis were taken off the roads. We advise all taxis users to check the taxi they get in to is licensed and driven by a licensed driver. We will continue to work to stop unfit taxis operating in the district.’
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