Taxi Driver Online

Slightly unusual this one, at least compared to the more normal speeding and council licensing stuff.


Taxi driver clocked at 91mph on A55 at Gaerwen loses licence

https://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk/n ... s-licence/

A SPEEDING taxi driver has lost his licence after failing to persuade a court not to ban him.

Irshad Ahmed, of Colchester Place in Heaton Norris, Stockport, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Friday afternoon.

The 76-year-old initially denied an offence of exceeding a 70mph limit on the A55 at Gaerwen.

He claimed his actions had been due to an "unwell" passenger needing to get to a toilet.

But when prosecutor Brian Robinson allowed the defendant to review police bodycam footage of his interaction with officers after being pulled over, he changed his plea to guilty.

Mr Robinson explained Ahmed was clocked at 91mph in the 70 zone.

And his explanation about the 'unwell' passenger wasn't mentioned at all to the officers who stopped him - only that he'd been "taking the passenger to the ferry port."

The court heard Ahmed had nine penalty points on his licence, meaning he was at risk of an immediate ban under totting up procedures (which happens when a driver reaches 12 or more points).

As such, he made an exceptional hardship application in the hope of retaining his licence.

Asked why a ban would cause him or others exceptional hardship, he explained he had 'just bought a car' and works as a taxi driver; a profession he has done for several decades.

Ahmed told the court he didn't provide care to any other parties and that he was fit and well, so didn't need his licence to get to any regular medical appointments.

He added he has financial impositions such as bills - including supporting his partner and grandchild - and that he'd want to keep his licence because he "likes to remain active."

The Magistrates handed down four penalty points and announced that the defendant hadn't met the high bar required to prove exceptional hardship, meaning he was banned for six months with immediate effect.

He must also pay a £466 fine, £130 costs and £186 victim surcharge.

"I'm disappointed really," he said.

"It's going to be very hard for me."

Maybe it's just me, but if driving is your only source of income then a ban must represent exceptional hardship

That said, as per his quote it's as if he's either not going to suffer exceptional hardship at all, and that he just keeps driving at 76 to give him some sense of purpose

Although I wouldn't claim to know the slightest thing about the substantive law in the regard...

Isn't he aware that that footage exists before pleading not guilty and going through the whole court rigmarole?

Or is he just a complete daftie?

maybe he doesn't qualify for state pension because he moved to the uk in retirement say for the NHS benefits

so he either works or is supported by family

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector