3 days ago
Taxi driver fined over £1,000 after advertising uninsured airport transfers
A private taxi driver has been fined for promoting uninsured airport taxi transfers on Facebook.
Samuel Szymczyk advertised these unlicensed airport transfers without possessing a private hire operator's licence.
Although the driver was licensed, the vehicle was not authorised for private hire and was uninsured.
This illegal activity led to Mr Szymczyk being ordered to pay a total of £1,418, which includes penalties, a victim surcharge, and prosecution costs.
The issue came to light in September 2024 when Reading Borough Council licensing officers spotted a Facebook post by Mr Szymczyk.
The post advertised 'easy airport transfers from Reading', offering chauffeur-driven rides to all major London airports.
These ads were posted across multiple local Facebook groups.
An investigation ensued as suspicions were raised due to the absence of any record of Mr Szymczyk being licensed by the council to operate a private hire business.
In January 2025, an officer, posing as a member of the public, booked a journey with Mr Szymczyk for a pre-agreed price of £75.
This journey was to take place on January 14, from The Penta Hotel in Reading to Gatwick Airport.
On the day of the booking, the driver arranged by Mr Szymczyk arrived at the pick-up point.
While the driver held a private hire driver's licence, the vehicle was not licensed for private hire work and lacked the necessary insurance.
At Reading Magistrates' court on August 8, Mr Szymczyk admitted to operating a private hire vehicle without an operator's licence and causing the use of an uninsured motor vehicle.
Magistrates fined him £400 for operating a private hire vehicle without a licence and an additional £120 for causing a vehicle to be driven without insurance, along with six penalty points on his driving licence.
A victim surcharge of £208 and prosecution costs of £690 were also imposed, bringing the total to £1,418.
Mr Szymczyk pleaded guilty to causing another to use a motor vehicle without insurance, contrary to Section 143(b) of the Road Traffic Act 1988, and operating a private hire vehicle without a private hire operator's licence, contrary to Section 46(1)(e) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.
Councillor John Ennis, lead councillor for climate strategy and transport, said: "This result secured by our licensing service sends a clear message: the serious risks posed by unlicensed transport services and the deliberate deception used to promote them will not be tolerated in Reading.
"Unscrupulous traders are taking advantage of the busy summer travel season, when more people are trying to get to the airport cheaply.
"However, if you inadvertently choose an unlicensed driver, there is no way of knowing their driving record, whether they are insured, and, if something were to go wrong, your holiday could be ruined before it's even started.
"Unlicensed drivers are also able to undercut legitimate businesses, which work hard and within the rules, which are there to give residents peace of mind that their driver has been vetted and they have all the correct insurance and documents.
"The promotion of an unlicensed and therefore uninsured service online, such as this, misleads the public and puts passengers at serious risk.
"We're committed to ensuring that all private hire operators in Reading meet the legal standards designed to protect customers, and we will continue to take firm action against those who choose to disregard the rules."
