A Tilehurst Privat Hire company has been heavily fined for breaking the rules.
In a routine inspection, licensing officers spotted a silver Mercedes Vito operating as a school transport vehicle outside The Holy Brook School in Ashampstead Road, Southcote.
On closer inspection, the officers realised the car was displaying an expired Transport for London private hire vehicle licence plate.
The operation, carried out by Reading Borough Council's licensing officers and legal team, then managed to track down the offenders.
The men responsible have both been slapped with fines for breaking the rules at separate hearings in Reading Magistrates Court.
Anthony Roe, 51, of Lower Armour Road, Tilehurst, the operator of 1st Class Cars, was found guilty in his absence of operating a private hire vehicle without a current licence, during a hearing on Monday, April 9.
He was fined £800 and ordered to pay legal costs of £1,500 and an £80 victim surcharge.
Clarence Harry, 63, of Halls Road, Tilehurst, Berkshire, the driver of the Mercedes Vito, appeared before magistrates on Thursday, April 12, and was found guilty of driving/plying for hire without a licence.
He was fined £120 and ordered to pay legal costs of £120 and a £30 victim surcharge.
The council's licensing officers are regularly out and about in the borough carrying out checks on private hire vehicles, their drivers for the safety of all their customers.
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