Owners of unsafe taxis given substantial finesDRIVERS ALSO HANDED DOWN FINES BY JUDGEUNSAFE and dirty taxis were in the spotlight at Wexford District Court this week as owners and drivers were fined by Judge John Coughlan for putting defective vehicles on the road.
James Walsh, 1, Crosstown, Drinagh was fined a total of €3,800 for having a minibus that was a danger to the public due to defects and did not have a certificate of road worthiness at Strandfield, Kerlogue on January 8 this year.
The driver of the vehicle Thomas Sinnot, Ballyminaun, Killinick was fined €1,900.
In a separate case, two Wexford Cabs drivers were fined for driving vehicles that were unsafe or unfit.
Richard Lawlor, 27 Coolcotts Court, Coolcotts Lane was fined a total of €900 for not having photo ID exhibited for passengers to see, not operating a taxi meter and using a vehicle that was unfit due to dilapidation, lack of cleanliness or other reason at Parnell Street on June 4 last.
William Morrissey, 3, St Munn's Villas, Taghmon was fined €500 for using a public service vehicle that was unserviceable, unsafe or unfit at The Faythe on June 5.
Charges against Wexford Cabs of allowing the use of unsafe vehicles were struck out by Judge Coughlan.
The Judge said there is no such entity in law as Wexford Cabs.
Giving evidence in the case of James Walsh, Garda Niall Brophy said he travelled behind the mini-bus and saw a ' huge volume of smoke' coming from the exhaust. It also had a defective rear light.
There were two passengers travelling in it at the time. He spoke to the driver Thomas Sinnott and asked him if it had a valid DOE cert but he wasn't sure.
The driver contacted the owner, Mr Walsh, who arrived on the scene. When asked about the DOE cert, he said it was 'in the process'.
He explained that it had failed previously due to a number of defects.
Garda Brophy seized the vehicle which was examined by qualified PSV inspector Garda Stuart O'sullivan.
Gards O'sullivan told the court that the 14seater Ford Transit mini-bus had more than 265,000 miles on the clock. He listed 14 serious defects in his report. 'This was a dangerous, defective vehicle and it should not have been in use on a public road,' he told Judge Coughlan.
Colette Culleton, solictor for Mr Walsh, said the mini-bus went for testing on January 6. He was told that it was mechanically sound but the body needed repairs.
He booked it in with a mechanic but in the meantime, the garda inspection took place, she said.
Ms Culleton said Mr Walsh was told he had 21 days from the date of the test in which to remedy matters. She said her client had over 20 years' experience in the business. He did not realise that the body work rendered the vehicle defective.
Judge Coughlan fined Mr Walsh €3,800 and directed that in the event of an appeal, he must lodge €3,000 cash in court.
He fined Mr Sinnott €1,900 and set the cash recognisance at €1,800 if he wishes to appeal.
The court heard tha Mr Sinnott only drives for Mr Walsh occasionally.
In the case of Richard Lawlor, Garda Brophy said he stopped the Toyota Hiace mini-bus belonging to Wexford Cabs at 11.50 p.m. on June 4. The taxi meter was not working. The driver explained that he had keyed in the wrong numbers and this had rendered it defunct.
The printer for printing out customer receipts was broken.
Garda Brophy said the exterior of the vehicle was in an unclean state. He stopped William Morrissey driving a Wexford Cabs vehicle on June 5. He gave evidence that the exterior of the 8-seater minibus was unclean.
There were wires exposed in front of the passenger seat.
Garda Brophy said the entire vehicle, inside and out, was unfit for public use.
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