A Bracknell-licensed taxi driver has been fined nearly £750 after he was caught illegally picking up passengers without a booking in Reading town centre.
Asghar Ali, of Willow Drive, Bracknell, was convicted at Reading Magistrates’ Court on 20 June 2025 after pleading guilty to two offences: plying for hire and driving without valid insurance.
The court heard that on 4 December 2024, Reading Borough Council licensing officers carried out a test purchase operation on Friar Street. Mr Ali, whose vehicle was stationary at the time, agreed to take undercover officers to Wokingham for £35 without a prior booking.
Although Mr Ali is licensed as a Hackney Carriage driver in Bracknell, his licence only permits him to pick up passengers without a booking within that borough. Accepting work outside of his licensed area invalidates his insurance, leaving passengers at risk in the event of a collision.
Magistrates gave Mr Ali credit for his early guilty plea and his cooperation during the investigation. He was fined £392 for driving without insurance and given eight penalty points on his driving licence. While no separate penalty was imposed for the plying for hire offence, he was also ordered to pay a £157 victim surcharge and £200 towards prosecution costs.
Mr Ali was convicted under:
- Section 143(1)(a) and Section 143(2) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 for driving without insurance.
- Section 45 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 for plying for hire.
Councillor John Ennis, Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, praised the licensing team’s efforts:
“Thanks to the proactive work of Reading’s Licensing team, another driver operating unlawfully has been successfully prosecuted.
Illegal plying for hire will not be tolerated in Reading. We will continue to take firm action against any driver who disregards the rules, maintaining the integrity of licensed taxi services in Reading and ensuring that residents and visitors can travel with confidence and peace of mind.”
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