Taxi driver fined after overcharging during council test purchase
Thursday, 19 February 2026
A taxi driver from Luton has been fined and ordered to pay substantial costs following a successful prosecution by the Central Bedfordshire Council for overcharging a passenger.
On Monday 2 February 2026, we successfully prosecuted Mr Nazik Sabir, 42 Chandos Road, Luton, Beds, LU4 8EX, at Luton Magistrates’ Court for failing to use his taxi meter and charging more than the metered fare during a test purchase carried out on 27 September 2025.
Mr Sabir did not attend the court hearing. The case proceeded in his absence, following an earlier adjournment requested by Mr Sabir in December.
When interviewed under caution, he confirmed that he remembered undertaking the journey but denied that he had overcharged the officers involved in the test purchase.
The court found Mr Sabir guilty in his absence and sentenced him to a fine of £220, and ordered him to pay costs of £2,141.55.
Councillor 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. Our test purchasing programme is an important tool in protecting the public and ensuring a level playing field for the vast majority of drivers who operate honestly and professionally.
Anyone with concerns about a licensed taxi driver is encouraged to report them to our licensing team by emailing taxilicensing@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk, providing as much detail as possible, including the vehicle registration number, date, time, location and nature of the complaint.
We continue to carry out compliance checks and test purchases to ensure licensed drivers meet the standards expected and that passengers can travel safely and with confidence.