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Prosecution number two for taxi man
A WHITEHAVEN man has been prosecuted for the second time in six months for driving an unlicensed taxi.
James Gilmour, 67, of Tomlin Avenue, Whitehaven, was prosecuted by Allerdale Council for acting as a private hire driver.
West Allerdale Magistrates’ Court heard how a transport check at Bankfield Day Centre, Newlands Lane, Workington, found a Ford Mondeo dropping off a passenger on November 7, 2008 at around 9am.
Upon checking, it was confirmed the passenger was subject to a Cumbria County Council transport contract held by Max Travel (Cumbria) Limited of Workington.
Subsequent enquiries revealed that Gilmour was not licensed as a private hire driver. The Mondeo was also not licensed as a private hire vehicle.
Council officers interviewed Michael Fee, 64, of Peart Road, Derwent Howe, Workington, and licensed operator of Max Travel in November 2008. He admitted that the vehicle belonged to him, that it was used on the county council contract and that the driver and vehicle were unlicensed.
Gilmour pleaded guilty to being an unlicensed driver and driving an unlicensed vehicle as a taxi. He was fined a total of £160 and ordered to pay £75 costs and a victim surcharge of £15.
Fee pleaded guilty to operating an unlicensed private hire driver and vehicle and was fined £200. He was also ordered to pay £75 costs and a victim surcharge of £15.
Trevor Gear, Allerdale Council’s legal executive who prosecuted the case, said: “Unlicensed taxis and drivers put lives at risk. If a taxi in Allerdale has not been licensed by Allerdale Borough Council, then it will not have undergone a taxi test and may not be roadworthy and suitable for the purpose. The driver may also not have had a medical nor be insured and it is unlikely they will have been checked by the Criminal Records Bureau or tested by the Driving Standards Agency.”
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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin
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