A taxi driver was fined £1,603 for illegally soliciting fares near Reading Festival, violating licensing rules.
Undercover council officers posed as passengers. Hammad Ashraf Khan Manj offered them a ride, wanting £35 to Slough train station. This happened on August 23, the festival’s first main day, when bands like Blink-182 played.
Manj’s license didn’t allow pickups there, and he also broke rules about pre-booking. He initially denied doing anything wrong but later admitted his guilt in court. He pleaded guilty to “Plying for Hire,” which means picking up riders without prior booking.
The court fined Manj £576. He also had to pay £800 in costs, with a victim surcharge adding £230 more, making his total bill £1,603.
Reading, South Oxfordshire, and Fareham councils worked together. Their officers ran the operation and helped the prosecution. Reading’s lead councillor, John Ennis, praised this team work, saying it keeps driver standards high, and public safety remains their main focus.
Picking up people on the spot is called “Plying for Hire.” Only licensed hackney carriage drivers can do it; otherwise, it is a crime. The maximum fine for this offense totals £2,500, and private hire drivers must have a license to work legally with pre-booked rides.