Taxi Boss Fined Over Unlicensed Cabbie
22 June 2009
A taxi boss was fined more than £800 after one of his drivers was caught without a license or insurance.
Express Taxis owner Alan Ashton appeared before South Tyneside Magistrates' Court on Friday after driver Kirpa Singh drove without a valid license and insurance for seven weeks last year.
But Ashton, 55, claimed he was 'hoodwinked' into allowing the self-employed driver to work for him.
Mr Singh, 20, worked as a hackney carriage driver until last year, but he gave up his licence to become a private hire driver for Express Taxis, based in Farnham Road, South Shields.
However, the court heard, Singh failed to apply for a private hire licence and, by the time he started his new job, his vehicle insurance had also ran out. He was banned for four months earlier this year.
When the problem was discovered by Town Hall licensing officials, Ashton was quizzed on December 17 in a taped interview. Asked if he kept copies of badges and vehicle details, he replied: "We don't, no."
He was then asked if he checked his drivers' insurance details, and said: "We don't believe in employing anyone who doesn't fully comply with the law."
Angus Taylor, prosecuting on behalf of the council, said: "Mr Ashton didn't go far enough in his record keeping.
"Mr Singh was on the road without the necessary taxi driver license, but Mr Ashton failed to comply with the council's terms and conditions."
The court heard how Ashton had held his hands up to the offences at an early stage. Mr Taylor told the court that Ashton had previously been reprimanded by the council for similar problems in recent years, first
with a verbal warning, then a written one.
He said: "Mr Ashton finds himself in this situation now, but it's not for the first time we've had difficulties with this set of circumstances."
Representing himself, Ashton told magistrates: "I was hoodwinked. I try my best to operate a taxi office in the way it should be run, but if drivers are going to be crafty then I'm at their mercy.
"I could be fined £1m in the next 10 minutes, but another taxi driver could do it and I would find myself before you again."
He pleaded guilty to two offences under the Local Government Act, including failing to keep a record of insurance and vehicle license.
Chairman of the Bench, Rose Turner fined him £375 for each of the two offences, he was also told to pay costs of £100 and £15 victim surcharge.
Source; The Shields Gazette
Login
Register
FAQ
