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Temporary bans for taxi drivers who parked illegally
THREE taxi drivers have lost their driving licences for seven days for illegal parking and obstructing the roads. At a licensing hearing this week hackney carriage driver Keith Brown attended the committee and fellow driver Shazad Ramzan, sent his apologies. At an earlier hearing taxi driver Dariush Zarezadeh appeared.
A council report alleged that Mr Brown has been queuing outside the short term taxi ranks and obstructing carriageways on Vaughan Parade and The Strand on Torquay harbourside, and parked in a bus bay during incidents dating back to September 2010.
Mr Ramzan is also alleged to have parked over-hanging the same taxi ranks in October and was also allegedly spotted parking on double yellow lines at the back of the bus bay on the seaward side of Torquay Harbour.
Members of the licensing committee heard that warning letters were sent to the two men on several occasions, but both were caught again. Mr Brown admitted parking infringements but said: "The taxi ranks are often used by private hire cars and we have to drive round and round. "It was not a deliberate mistake. I've been conscious of my driving and my parking but I got caught out."
Following the imposition of the seven-day ban he said: "Some private hire taxis double park but it seems traffic wardens only go after hackney carriages. "Some buses use the taxi ranks or park on double yellow lines. "There is lots going on the harbourside."
Mr Ramzan did not attend the committee meeting. Mr Zarezadeh was suspended for seven days after an earlier hearing heard that he had been spotted parked illegally on double yellow lines outside Natwest bank, Union Street on October 18 last year. He was sent a written warning about his conduct.
Then on February 19 Mr Zarezadeh was spotted parked illegally again at the rear of the bus lane on the seaward side of Torquay Harbour and a police van on an emergency call had to use its sirens to move Mr Zarezadeh because he was causing an obstruction.
Mr Zarezadeh was written to again and in response he said he had 'pulled over' to allow the police vehicle to pass, but environmental health officer Shaun Rackley said this was not the case and the vehicle was already illegally parked. Speaking before Torbay Council's Licensing committee Mr Zarazedah said: "I cannot remember obstructing the police van because the road is wide enough even where the double lines are, there is enough room for the police van to get through. I didn't mean to do that and as I have said I am sorry."
He added that the ban would effect him because he would still have expenses to meet during the time he was unable to work. "At the moment it is a hard time. You try and work hard and you come across a situation like this."
The committee decided to suspended Mr Zarazedah's license for a week, but the ban will not start until 21 days after the decision, because the taxi driver has the right to appeal.
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