DON’T DRUG DRIVE
SOMERSET TAXI DRIVER LOSES LICENCE AMID CLAIMS HE DROVE WHILE ON CANNABIS
A Somerset taxi driver has had his licence revoked after allegedly driving while stoned with passengers on board. The driver, known only as Driver X, came to the attention of Avon and Somerset Constabulary on 25 September after reporting driving under the influence of cannabis while he had passengers in his taxi. Sedgemoor DC’s licensing team chose to revoke Driver X’s hackney carriage licence on October 12, on the basis that this was his second similar offence within six months, after he was charged by police in May for driving under the
influence of cannabis. While the police’s investigation remains ongoing, the council’s licensing panel has now confirmed this revocation, meaning Driver X will no longer be able to operate as a taxi driver. The council’s licensing panel met in confidential session on November 9, with its decision being subsequently published on the council’s official website. The police disclosed information to the council’s licensing team in order to protect the public, even though formal charges had not yet been brought.
Driver X had disclosed the May allegation to the council’s licensing team and had been advised that “any
further incidents or allegations of a similar nature would mean immediate revocation” of his licence. A council spokesman said: “The panel acknowledged that neither case against Driver X was concluded. However, the alleg- ations were serious and alleged to have taken place while Driver X was driving their hackney carriage. In the interests of public safety, Driver X’s Hackney carriage driver’s licence shall remain revoked.”
STIRLING CABBIE REPORTED TO POLICE AS CUSTOMERS SAY HE WAS ‘TOO HIGH’ TO DRIVE
A Stirling taxi driver was caught driving while stoned after a customer reported him to police. David Ferguson appeared at Stirling Sheriff Court on 16 November after admitting driving while unfit to drive through drink or drugs and possessing cannabis. The court was told that 33-year-old Ferguson, responding to
a
booking, had arrived at a hotel at 11pm on 9 April this year to pick up a couple. But after entering the vehicle and detecting a strong smell of cannabis the couple told Ferguson he was ‘too high’ to drive. The male passenger had noticed Ferguson’s pupils were very large and his speech was also slurred. Fiscal depute Sean Iles told the court that Ferguson quickly drove off, police were called who then contacted the taxi firm and traced
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the vehicle, with its engine running about 12.20am. As the police car pulled up the taxi drove off, however, police signalled the taxi to stop. The driver was slow to react, and as the taxi stopped it rolled back as if the handbrake had not been applied properly. Mr Iles added when officers spoke to Ferguson he appeared dazed. There was also a strong smell of cannabis. When searched, officers found a green herbal substance and a pipe in the accused’s jeans.
Ferguson was arrested and later examined by a doctor who concluded his condition was due to drugs. The herbal substance, tested positive for cannabis. Ferguson, who was representing himself, told Sheriff William Gilchrist that his taxi driving licence had been suspended. The Sheriff told Ferguson a driving ban was mandatory for such an offence despite Ferguson stating a new building
affected by the loss of his licence. The Sheriff added that driving under the influence of drugs was a serious matter involving passen- gers and other road users. Ferguson was sentenced to a 100 hours’ unpaid work. He was also banned from driving for 16 months and admonished on the charge of possessing cannabis.
DECEMBER 2022 PHTM
job would be
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