Taxi Driver Online

Taxi firm faces closure

A TAXI firm is facing closure after operating for three months with unlicensed cars and drivers. An investigation by Darlington Borough Council has found that Anthony’s Chauffering Service, based at Durham Tees Valley Airport, made 327 illegal journeys from June to September.

Permits were later obtained, but the firm’s boss Mark Anthony James today faces questioning from the council’s licensing committee, a hearing which will determine whether the business can continue to operate. Depending on the outcome, a criminal prosecution could follow.

In his report to the licensing committee, the council’s director of corporate services Paul Wildsmith said: “He has failed to produce booking records on request, failed to provide other information requested by officers and has continued to use unlicensed vehicles and drivers contrary to the advice given to him by officers.”

The council began its investigation in April, when officers demanded to know why the firm had been granted a operating licence, but had not applied for licences for any vehicles or drivers.

Licensing enforcement officers visited the firm’s offices to inspect the booking records, when they discovered the firm had been using unlicensed vehicles and drivers. It was agreed that the entire operating records would be produced the following day, but the books never materialised.

Taxi firms must, by law, keep a log of all bookings which has to be submitted to the local authority when requested. The council made repeated attempts up to October 24 to see the records, but to no avail.

Officers also approached all of the firm's known corporate clients and collated information revealing the hundreds of unlicensed trips. In his report, Mr Wildsmith said: “There are potentially three licensing offences for each of these occasions and there is also a query about whether the vehicles were properly insured for these journeys.”

Mr James was six times asked to meet with the council to discuss the matter, but only attended once. Since the investigation began, Mr James successfully applied for seven vehicle licenses and two driver’s licenses.

Anthony’s Chauffering Service declined to comment when approached yesterday.

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IDFIMH

I bet they ****ing didn't want to comment.

The council should have got an injunction months ago, and withdrawn the ops license immediately.

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IDFIMH

The report to councillors is an interesting read as well.

Licensing Committee report 11/11/08

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IDFIMH

Taxi company will go on



A TAXI company will continue to carry passengers despite being under investigation for operating illegally.

The investigation into Anthony’s Chauffering Service, based at Durham Tees Valley Airport, revealed it had carried out 327 illegal journeys over a three month period this summer.

At one point, according to the report by Darlington Borough Council, the company had not licensed any of its drivers or vehicles.

It already held an operating license and some drivers and vehicles have since been obtained.

Mark Anthony James, the boss of the taxi firm, was due to appear before the council’s licensing committee yesterday to hear if his company’s license would be revoked.

But Mr James did not attend the meeting as he was visiting his father, who is ill.

Councillor Bryan Thistlethwaite said: "I partly agree that he should be given another chance, but after reading through the paperwork, I don’t think he deserves one, however, that is just my point of view and not that of the committee."

Pam Ross, the council’s licensing and parking manager, said the firm was known to be still in operation.

She added: "We don’t know about what insurance is in place. Those vehicles licensed with us are insured but we don’t know about the ones that haven’t been licensed yet."

The meeting heard that the council would be able to suspend the company’s licence, but it would still be able to operate if it appealed the decision.

The committee decided to call a special meeting to discuss the matter.

It will be held on December 2. A decision will be made, regardless of whether Mr James is in attendance or not.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Is there no mechanism in place to suspend this operation summarily?

Have the police been informed about the likelihood of a number of vehicles on the roads uninsured?

Given that this 'operator' has such a cavalier attitude to licensing, what sort of state are the cars in? The public may be in some danger, IMHO.

Yes they should have gone to court to get an injunction that he would only use licensed drivers and vehicles up to the December meeting.

Then if he breaks that injunction he could be remanded in custody until then.

But why oh why is this mush using unlicensed vehicles and drivers?

If he has taken the trouble to license as an op, and one would hope his chauffeur cars are a nice standard, then why not license them?

Unless his drivers are crooks.

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IDFIMH