Illegal minicab crackdown 'could hit innocent drivers'

A crackdown on illegal minicabs in central London could see innocent drivers fined for stopping to check a map or drop off children on the school run, campaigners warned today.

Westminster council is testing new powers which allow wardens, backed up by CCTV cameras, and ticket motorists who stop for only seconds.

The intention is to target unlicensed cabbies in the West End but motoring groups said there was no protection for other drivers. Paul Pearson, of campaign group penaltychargenotice.co.uk, said: "This is terribly unfair."

Mr Pearson added: "They could well be targeting mothers dropping off and collecting children from primary schools, a motorist who pulls over in a side street to make a phone call or to look up something on an A to Z, minicabs that have no choice sometimes but to wait on yellow lines."
Since 2003, police have arrested more than 6,000 illegal cab drivers.

The council also estimates hundreds of private hire licensed minicabs park illegally while waiting for customers.

Lee Rowley, Conservative-run Westminster's cabinet member for parking and transportation, said: "When unlicensed minicabs see a parking warden coming they get back in their cars, drive around the block and then park in the same place.

"It's a game of cat and mouse in central London because these people know how the system works.

"Now, they might see us coming but we can take a photograph and (their) details to issue a penalty charge notice and make them pay it."

Councillor Rowley would not say if the borough would cancel tickets of innocent motorists who become lost, adding that drivers who felt unfairly targeted should appeal.