Illegal street traders and pedicabs hit with over £20,000 in fines
Pedicab riders and illegal street traders have seen fines, costs, and victim surcharges totalling £20,205.50 after the latest round of prosecutions at City of Westminster Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 9th July. Five unlicensed street traders on Westminster selling peanuts and balloons saw £11,127.50 in convictions while another three cases were adjojurned.
A shop on Charing Cross Road saw the largest fine of all the illegal street traders, £3,382, having previously been given multiple warnings over selling “a multitude” of souvenir goods on the street. The company was dissolved in the lead up to court but the director was still held personally liable and convicted.
Nine pedicab operators, including several repeat offenders, were hit with some of the biggest individual fines, totalling £9,0755, after the latest round of prosecutions. The riders were convicted “thanks to the work of City Inspectors from Westminster City Council,” with fines, costs, and victim surcharges ranging from £750 to £1460 under the Control of Pollution Act 1974.
Ahead of TfL’s licensing regime, set to come into effect early next year, teams from the central London local authority continue to patrol “hotspot areas” as well educating visitors against the dangers of pedicabs and the work undertaken by the Metropolitan Police to prosecute those contravening current legislation. Because of the repeat prosecutions, the council is considering options including injunctions or banning orders “for the most prolific riders.”
For more updates on Westminster, visit EyeOnLondon Westminster.
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