Taxi Driver Online

Taxi driver keeps licence despite driving at 96mph

A SPEEDING taxi driver who was caught driving at 96mph while disqualified and carrying a passenger has been allowed to keep his licence.

Michael Thomson was already subject to a six-month driving ban for speeding when he was spotted hurtling along the A696 dual carriageway in Northumberland in his hackney cab.

The 33-year-old was also illegally carrying a passenger and claimed he was trying to help his customer reach a flight at Newcastle International Airport.

Thomson pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, speeding and driving without insurance.

He was originally told to expect a term of imprisonment when he appeared at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court.

But magistrates instead gave him a 12-week custodial sentence, suspended for six months, and declined to impose a fresh driving ban or a fine.

However, six points were added to his licence, which means the taxi driver is now legally allowed to drive as his original speeding ban has expired.

Thomson, of Sycamore Avenue, Dinnington, was also given a six-month electronic curfew between the hours of 9pm and 7am. Magistrates had earlier heard pleas from Thomson’s defence solicitor Michael Crowe, who said taxi driving was the only work available to him.

Mr Crowe said Thomson had four children – two from a previous relationship – who he would be unable to support if he was jailed.

“He lives with his partner. She works full-time and she relies on the defendant to provide childcare while she is working,” Mr Crowe said. “There are two children from a previous relationship with whom he has twice weekly contact.

“There are four children here, and he hopes to be able to provide for them sooner rather than later. That wouldn’t be able to take place if he was to be imprisoned.”

Thomson had been driving his father’s taxi for four years, but was disqualified in May for speeding offences.

It was on Sunday, November 22 when he was seen by police speeding towards Newcastle Airport. But, Mr Crowe said, Thomson had not intended to drive while disqualified and he insisted his client genuinely believed his previous ban had expired.

The lawyer said: “You look on his record and you can see some traffic offences, but you won’t see driving while disqualified.

“He pleaded guilty specifically on the basis that he had unwittingly committed these offences. He didn’t realise he had committed these offences. He has apologised and he has apologised again today.

“He is remorseful, not only to the authorities but also to his family for this.”

Thomson’s friends and family looked on from the public gallery as magistrates’ chairman Myra Robinson released him.

He patted his defence solicitor Mr Crowe on the back and said “cheers” before leaving the court.

He is remorseful and pleaded guilty specifically on the basis that he had unwittingly committed these offences

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

Something is not right here, he received a 6 month ban in May and was stopped in November, unless the ban came into afect in the latter part on May, but does the actual ban start from the court date or the date of the offence
If your stopped for speeding and challenge it, the points come off 3 years from the date of the offence not the conviction date, even though they cannot be removed until 4 years

Court date.

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IDFIMH

There is something wrong. He pleaded guilty to driving whilst disqualified but his solicitor stated that you will not see driving whilst disqualified on his record.
How confusing.

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Grandad,

At a guess I think he didn't get a ban for the speeding, he got points, which through the totting up procedure led to a six months ban.

Once that ban is over he loses all those points, but his license will still be endorsed with the offences but not the points.

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IDFIMH

Hang on, are you saying that if someone gets a ban for say2 years on totting up, when the ban is finished, they have a clean license.

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Grandad,

Clean no, points free yes.

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IDFIMH

One good thing about driving a TX2.

I'll never be there.