Taxi Driver Online

Unlicensed minicab driver evades drive ban


A MAN who drove a minibus minicab without a licence or insurance escaped a driving ban because he needed to drive for a new job as a baker.

Jhangir Akhtar (37), of Barlow Street, Glodwick, pleaded guilty to two charges of using a motor vehicle with no insurance and driving a private-hire vehicle without a licence at Oldham magistrates court yesterday.

He was seen by police driving a Ford mini-bus at speed in January and was traced to Skyline taxis in Oldham Road, Failsworth. Without a private-hire licence he was not insured.

Akhtar already had six penalty points on his driving licence.

Representing himself, he told the court disqualification would mean not being able to work.

“I’ve just started working in bakeries and get shift work in Bolton and Oldham. I need the car to get to Bolton for 6am.”

Magistrates accepted his hardship case and fined him £220, with six penalty points for the insurance offence. He was fined £37.50 and ordered to pay £400 costs and a £22 surcharge for having no cab licence

http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news- ... -drive-ban

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

Brilliant.

The court would have had to weigh up the consequences of any ban on others i.e. family losing home through no money to pay mortgage, child maintenance, etc. Also they would have had to consider if public transport was available for him to get to work at that time or someone else dropping him at work.

His final bill is around £680, and if he gets any more points he will get a six months ban, so I'm not sure it can be said he got off lightly.

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IDFIMH

Pity they didn't seize the minibus. Maybe that would have taught the operator to check drivers' credentials when they take anyone on.