Luton taxi driver fined for overcharging passenger during council test purchase
Prosecution highlights importance of fair fares and compliance checks
A taxi driver from Luton has been fined for overcharging a passenger during a test purchase conducted by Central Bedfordshire Council.
Mr Nazik Sabir of 42 Chandos Road, Luton was prosecuted at Luton Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 2nd February 2026.
He was found guilty of failing to use his taxi meter and charging more than the metered fare during the test purchase on 27th September 2025.
Mr Sabir did not attend the hearing, which proceeded in his absence after an earlier adjournment he requested in December.
Although he remembered the journey, during an interview under caution, Mr Sabir denied overcharging the officers involved in the test purchase.
The court sentenced Mr Sabir to a fine of £220 and ordered him to pay costs amounting to £2,141.55.
Cllr Tracey Wye, Executive Member responsible for Licensing at Central Bedfordshire Council, said: “Licensed taxi drivers are trusted to charge passengers fairly and in line with the law. This prosecution sends a clear message that we will not tolerate drivers who abuse that trust by failing to use their meter or overcharging customers.”
She emphasized the importance of the council’s test purchasing program in protecting the public and ensuring a level playing field for honest and professional drivers.
Central Bedfordshire Council encourages anyone with concerns about a licensed taxi driver to report them to the Council’s licensing team with details including the vehicle registration number, date, time, location, and nature of the complaint.
The Council continues to undertake compliance checks and test purchases to ensure licensed drivers fulfill expected standards and help passengers travel safely and with confidence.