Taxi Driver Online

No tax councillor and taxi boss enraged by “over zealous” Cheshire Police

TAXI drivers’ leader and Fenland councillor Dave Patrick claims “over zealous and heavy handed” Cheshire Police left him nursing a £100 bill.

He claims their actions also forced him to make a 300 mile round trip to collect £160 which he had parted with on his journey north to buy a new mini bus.

Cllr Patrick paid £4,000 for the second hand mini bus and was stopped just 15 minutes later for driving it without a tax disc.

“I’ve been a taxi driver for around 14 years and I would never do anything to jeopardise my livelihood,” he said.

“I have purchased vehicles without tax before and just sorted the disc the next day. I was simply going to do the same again and wasn’t aware I was committing an offence.

Cllr Patrick, chairman of the Wisbech and District Hackney Carriage Drivers’ Association chairman, complained to the force after he forked out the £260 release fee to prevent Bowers Recovery taking the mini-bus after police impounded it.

Cllr Patrick had to return to Altrincham days later to collect a £160 refund he was entitled to from the fee.

“The police were overzealous and heavy-handed,” he said. “They lacked understanding or any discretion. They said they had a duty to stop me as the vehicle had been showing no tax for ages but it had been sitting in a showroom.

“It could have been easily sorted by giving me seven days to produce my documents.”

After taking four-year-old grandson Jamie along for the journey Mr Patrick was concerned the pair were going to be left stranded.

“The situation should have been better handled,” said Cllr Patrick.

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: “Officers acted lawfully and in line with DVLA procedures and guidelines in relation to the seizure of untaxed vehicles being driven on the public road.”

http://www.cambstimes.co.uk/home/no_tax_councillor_and_taxi_boss_enraged_by_over_zealous_cheshire_police_1_601334

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

Realy????

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Grandad,

I dont want to be too harsh on this guy, I've been there when buying cabs too, I think the fact he was a councillor is being used against him.

CC

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

You may well have been there, but did you do it knowing you were committing an offense?

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Grandad,

Of course, thats why I took the beermat

CC

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

No it's not!!

The police are now very hot indeed on untaxed vehicles, even when just bought.

Witness the hundreds of vehicles stopped two or three times a week in and around Measham BCA car auctions, driving their newly purchased motors home without tax.

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

Pull the other one!!! the only differance this time was that he got caught.

We all Know its illegal to drive with no Tax Disc, and no Tax Disc means no Valid Insurance... just cos he's a councillor does not make him above the Law.

If he intended sorting the Tax disc next day as he said then that Implies he did not even have a Tax Disc in the first place at the time he was knicked...naughty boy

Easy targets. Why take the risk?

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Grandad,

Why didn't he pay £4,000 + whatever it is for road tax and get the seller to tax it ready for collection?

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!