Taxi driver fined for smoking in vehicle

A taxi driver who was caught smoking in his vehicle in Waterfoot has been fined £100 and ordered to pay £150 costs by magistrates.

Adam Sharif Judge, 24, was spotted smoking in the driver’s seat of his hackney carriage in Bacup Road by licensing enforcement officers from Rossendale Council on February 14 this year.

Judge, of Suffolk Street, Oldham, was issued with a £30 Fixed Penalty Notice for smoking in a work vehicle.

This increased to £50 when he failed to pay within 15 days. He was then prosecuted when he still did not pay after a further 14 days.

Judge pleaded guilty by letter at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court to failing to pay the notice.

Councillor Steve Hughes, Rossendale Council’s Licensing Committee Chairman, said:

We expect the highest standards of drivers licensed by Rossendale and we will continue to take action against those who do not meet those high standards.

We also work closely with other agencies to support their enforcement activities if offences take place outside the borough.

Councillor Christine Lamb, Portfolio Holder for Regulatory Services, added:

We are pleased with this fine which should serve as a warning to others that this type of behaviour is not acceptable. It also makes it clear that we will prosecute if people do not pay fixed penalty notices.