FIT AND PROPER


LINCOLN PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER WHO DIDN’T ADMIT SPEEDING OFFENCE GRANTED LICENCE


A PHV driver in Lincoln was granted a licence despite not revealing a previous speeding offence. The decision was reached by the City of Lincoln Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee during a meeting in April. Meeting notes show that the candidate submitted their application and documentation for a new private hire driver’s licence in January, stating no previous convictions, cautions, or driving endorsements. However, a DVLA


check showed a speeding violation: SP30 offence. Despite this, the applicant success- fully completed the Driver Improve- ment Programme on his first attempt and passed the know- ledge test, scoring eight out of ten. The report stated: “The Committee examined the applicant to deter- mine whether or not he was a fit and proper person, in particular they asked him to explain his previous offences. The applicant


gave good answers particularly with regards to how he would handle difficult customers as a taxi driver and how he would safe- guard customers.”


Although the applicant was suc- cessful, the sub-committee issued a sternly-worded letter stressing the importance of disclosing any future convictions or court proceedings, warning any further offences could result in the revocation of his PH driver’s licence.


CAMBRIDGE PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER FAILS TO REGAIN LICENCE HE LOST FOR DRIVING OFFENCES


A PH driver has lost his licence after South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) success- fully defended an appeal in court. Humayun Ahmed, 27, of Cambridge, appeared before the council’s Licensing Appeals Sub Committee in August 2022. This came after Mr Ahmed notified the council that he had been convicted of driving without due care and attention, while not on duty as a PH driver and fined £630. The conviction originated from when he was issued with a fine in August 2019 for speeding. This would have resulted in three points on his personal driving licence and a £100 fine. However, Mr Ahmed did not pay the fine and the matter escalated into legal proceedings. Then, in October 2020, the council received a complaint that Mr Ahmed’s PHV was breaching licence conditions by not having both the operator and council-


PHTM AUGUST 2023


issued door signs on show on his vehicle while he was working. The council told Mr Ahmed to rectify this immediately, which he did. Later, in April 2022, Mr Ahmed notified the council that he had been convicted of another speeding offence. For this, he was handed a further five penalty points on his personal driving licence. This meant he had 14 points on his driving licence - drivers are banned if they receive 12 or more penalty points. As a result of these offences, SCDC’s Licensing Sub Committee


revoked his private hire driver licence. Mr Ahmed appealed the council’s decision. The appeal was heard at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, July 19. The Lead Magistrate stated that they had to ensure the safety of the public and felt that Mr Ahmed’s behaviour had fallen short of that expected of a professional driver. The court, therefore, determined that Mr Ahmed was not a fit and proper person to hold a private hire licence and dismissed the appeal, awarding the council £150 in costs.


24 POINTS FOR LIVERPOOL PH DRIVER FOR ILEGALLY PLYING FOR HIRE


A Liverpool private hire driver who illegally plied for hire in Liverpool city centre has been convicted at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court. The driver was fined on 6 July and


had to pay costs totalling £941 and 24 points were added to his DVLA licence. Liverpool City Council licensing asked: “Was it worth it?”


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