15 out of 21 taxis and private hire cars found to have licensing infringements in roadside checks in Inverness and Fort William
Roadside checks on taxis and private hire cars in Inverness and Fort William revealed 15 licensing infringements and four vehicle defects.
Highlands and Islands road policing officers along with partners from Highland Council Trading Standards, stopped and checked 21 vehicles during the two-day operation ahead of the festive season.
A total of 15 licensing infringements were detected and were dealt with by Trading Standards.
Four vehicle defects were found with warnings given or the opportunity to rectify these under the Vehicle Defect Rectification Scheme.
• 22 drivers were issued penalty points and a £200 fine as part of Operation Tramline in Inverness
• Multiple driving offences in and around Inverness
Road policing constable Ben Cruickshank said: “We carried out this operation with our partners ahead of the festive season to ensure that people using taxis or private hire cars can get home safely and everyone can enjoy the season.
“It was also another opportunity for us to give advice and highlight to drivers the importance of regular checks to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy.
We were keen to highlight the dangers and serious consequences of not keeping vehicles up to the required standard.”
Trading standards team leader Mark McGinty said it had been good once again to partner Police Scotland road policing as the festive season begins.
“Operations of this nature not only offer an opportunity to gain a snapshot of the level of trade compliance with licensing laws and conditions but also they allow for direct engagement between the trade and the enforcement community,” he said.
“This dialogue has always been positive be it for the giving of general advice or as a push for those found to have non-compliances, to rectify and raise the standards of what they do to meet that expected of them.”
He added: “Such an operation also, of course, gives confidence to the general public in that the use of taxis and private hire cars in the Highland Council area is safe, legal and fair.”
