Crackdown on illegal taxi fares

Private hire taxis cannot stop to pick up passengers

More than 80 cab drivers in Nottingham have had their licences revoked or suspended in the last year - mostly for picking up customers illegally.

Nottingham City Council said more than 90% of the penalties were handed out to private-hire taxi drivers who stopped for fares without a booking.

The council carries out spot checks on the city's 2,000 private-hire cabs to make sure they are operating properly.

Drivers can be fined up to £400 for illegally stopping for customers.

Private hire cabs can only take customers who pre-book their journey while hackney cabs can stop and pick up fares in the street and in designated taxi ranks.

The city council said all taxi drivers are given a series of tests before they are granted a licence.