Taxi Driver Online

Danger driving by taxi driver

Aug 27 2010

A taxi driver hurtled along a busy dual carriageway and came within a few feet of an unmarked police car.

Shafqat Ali was clocked at 90 miles per hour on the A77 near Bogend Toll at Symington.

And he almost caused a crash when he slammed on his brakes and suddenly pulled into another lane.

Police witnessed Ali carrying out the danger stunts.

The 45-year-old appeared in Ayr Sheriff Court and was originally charged with dangerous driving.

But the charge was reduced to driving without due care and attention.

He pleaded guilty to the offence on June 3 this year.

Depute fiscal Mellissa Keel told Sheriff Desmond Leslie: “At around 1.50pm, police on duty in an unmarked car became aware of a car following close behind them in the outside lane. It came as close as 15ft.

“When they passed a marked police car at the Grassyards interchange, the accused dropped back and returned to the inside lane.

“But police later became aware of the car approaching behind them at high speed. Thereafter, police noted it was travelling in excess of 90 miles per hour.”

Ms Keel continued: “As the car approached the speed cameras at Bogend Toll, the accused dropped his speed sharply and moved into the other lane, narrowly avoiding another vehicle.”

Ali was stopped at Whitletts Roundabout.

A defence lawyer for Ali said: “It was an unmarked car, he wasn’t aware that police were within it.”

Sheriff Leslie replied: “Well, obviously.”

Ali has been a taxi driver in his home city of Newcastle for ten years. But his career is in jeopardy after this conviction. His licence is due for review in weeks.

Sheriff Leslie fined him £400 and put five points on his driving licence.

And he told Ali: “Consider yourself very fortunate that you are not being disqualified today.”

Source; http://www.ayrshirepost.net/ayrshire-ne ... -27133166/

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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.

Decorum is surely just common sense
Something all taxi drivers need
But denying cabbies their own licence
Is little more than naked greed.

Are you for real? What greed is the local authority protecting and for what agenda. The driver was caught doing 90mph and almost hit other cars, the fact one was an unmarked police car just helped him get caught. He probably only pleaded guilty to the lesser charge as he wouldve got a stiffer punishment had he be found guilty of dangerous driving.

If the local authority think his driving standard could put his passengers at risk (whether he had any at the time of incident is irrelevant) then the authority should step in

Ban him.

No Ban, just a £400 fine and five points on his driving licence.


Anyone can make a little mistake

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"