FIT AND PROPER
FIVE HYNDBURN TAXI DRIVERS SUSPENDED AFTER INVESTIGATION
Five taxi drivers have been suspended after a three-month investi- gation uncovered unsafe vehicles, speeding and the use of mobile phones while driving. Police said the five had temporarily had their licences sus- pended for ‘persistent breaches’ of regula- tions after a joint operation by police and Hyndburn Bor- ough Council.
The operation saw more than 50 warning notices issued for fail- ing to wear a taxi badge, not displaying signs and for having no fire extinguisher or first aid kit.
More than 30 drivers were given £60 fixed penalty notices for contravening no-entry
areas, driving using a mobile phone, failing to wear a seat belt and speeding.
Five drivers were also summonsed to court for offences such as having dangerous vehicle parts and ply- ing for hire.
Sergeant Simon Lynch said of those suspend- ed, the worst breach had involved a taxi which had ‘clearly been involved in an accident with head- lamps hanging loose’. He told the Blackburn Citizen: “It was grossly unroadworthy but still being used as a taxi. “The others were largely suspended for not having badges or plates or basic safety equipment, which is just not acceptable. “People should have
the comfort of know- ing they’re in a bona fide cab and they have the right to expect a first aid kit or fire extin- guisher should any- thing happen.
“The operation came about because brea- ches such as using mobile phones and having no plates were getting quite blatant. Members of the public were concerned and so were cab compa- nies, and drivers themselves.
“There are over 420 licensed taxis in Hynd- burn, mostly operated by drivers who take great care of their pas- sengers.
“Unfortunately there are some who are less stringent and it is they whom we are target- ing.”
TAXI SHOP A1 11 A2 18 / 24 / 36 A3 18 / 24 / 36 A5 10 B5 10 A6 18 / 19 Screen Signs Airport Board Messenger
WOLVERHAMPTON CABBIES TO PAY £6,357 IN FINES AND COSTS
Wolverhampton cab- bies have been ordered to pay £6,357 in fines and costs after being caught plying for hire with the wrong licences.
The Express and Star reports that eight driv- ers have been prosecuted and sub- sequently fined during June and July as revealed in a report to
Wolverhampton City Council’s licensing panel.
Between them they have been given a total of 50 penalty points on their licences.
STOKE TAXI DRIVER DID NOT HAVE A DRIVING LICENCE
A cabbie has been stripped of his taxi licence because he did not have a driving licence. Stoke-on-Trent City Council revoked the taxi licence after the driver was hauled before a disciplinary hearing. He was one of two drivers to have their licences revoked. Councillor Joy Garner, chairman of the coun- cil’s licensing and registration panel, told
the Stoke on Trent Sentinel: “The licence holder was not a fit and proper person based on their motor- ing convictions and the fact they do not hold a driving licence.” The other revocation was imposed after allegations the driver had committed a crime involving a young passenger. Two other drivers had their licences suspend- ed until they re-passed
the knowledge test and the taxi driver-specific driving test.
On one of the cases, Mrs Garner said: “The licence holder admitted they did not under- stand the law relating to plying for hire. “We felt the driver needed to be brought up to date with rules and regulations.” A further driver was given a strict warning following an unspeci- fied complaint.
USING MOBILE AT THE WHEEL COSTS SKIPTON DRIVER £600
A taxi driver from Skip- ton claimed he was laughing and joking on his taxi radio when he was said to have been spotted using a handheld mobile phone by an off-duty policeman, the town’s magistrates heard. Amjid Mahmood, 34, had denied the charge of driving while using the phone last March 26. But he was con- victed after a trial at Skipton Magistrates’ Court last month. Mahmood, through an interpreter,
told the Roof Sign Plug Roof Sign Mag Cover Roof Sign Mags
bench he only used his mobile in emergen- cies and never used it while driving.
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He told the court he had been holding the radio microphone to his mouth to speak to the controller and was laughing and joking with him as he drove along Broughton Road at around 4.45pm. But PC Andrew Ingram said he saw Mahmood
holding a mobile phone to his right ear. He had a clear view of the defendant as the cars met along the road, and passed with- in a metre of one another.
PC Ingram said he was stationery at the time and Mahmood’s car was crawling at such a slow speed he was able to look out of his car window and write the registration number on his hand. Defending Mahmood, John Mewies said it was impossible for a police officer to judge in two seconds whether someone was holding a microphone to his mouth or a phone to his ear. He said PC Ingram had not gone to ques- tion his client until several hours later and had not asked to look at the phone to check whether any calls had been received or made at the time of the
offence.
“I find it incredible the police officer did not do this. That would have been the most telling evidence. Instead the prosecu- tion is relying on a two-second glance,” he said.
He said his client only owned a pay-as-you- go phone and it would not make sense to use it and ring the control room when it would cost him to do so, rather than use the taxi radio system for free. The bench found Mah- mood guilty of the offence and fined him £340 and endorsed his licence with three penalty points.
He was also ordered to pay £250 costs, as well as a £15 victims surcharge.
Mmm... we only fea- ture this because it is the highest penalty we’ve heard about for mobile phone of- fences. - Ed
PHTM SEPTEMBER 2010
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