Taxi Driver Online

Dundee taxi drivers sanctioned over crime incidents


More than 50 Dundee taxi drivers have been hauled in front of licensing chiefs in the last three years after committing crimes.

And three-quarters of them have been allowed to keep their licences.

A Freedom of Information request by the Tele revealed that action taken by the licensing committee against 56 cabbies — the majority of them male — ranged from suspensions to warnings, but in some cases, no action was taken at all.

The most common offence that drivers were convicted of was breach of the peace.

This led to 27 licences being reviewed, resulting in the permanent suspension of nine licence holders. At least two others kept their licences but were suspended for three or six months.

Twelve licences were reviewed for the offence of smoking in a taxi, with at least one driver having their licence revoked.

It is illegal for a driver or passenger to smoke in a taxi.

Ten drivers were sanctioned for crimes of dishonesty — which can include theft — with six of them handed written warnings.

The most serious suspension for this offence lasted three months.

And seven drivers — six males and one female — faced hearings after being convicted of road traffic offences.

Some were suspended while others were warned.

Chris Elder, who represents taxi drivers through the Unite union, said he was surprised.

He said: “That sounds like an awful lot, especially over only three years. Parking offences are a regular occurrence though.

“The driver is liable for what happens in his taxi, even if the passenger lights up — and not all passengers know or care that it’s illegal.”

Mr Elder said that many of the offences that drivers were sanctioned for by the licensing committee were minor, adding: “Taxi drivers are held to a very high standard and can’t ever be off the clock.

“If it’s serious and puts any customer at risk, then it is right to take action.

“But a lot of the things the guys get pulled up for are ridiculous.”

Stewart Hunter, convener of the licensing committee, said: “The vast majority of offences are committed outwith work, but any offence is treated seriously and on its own merit.

“Our priority is keeping the public safe at all times, so it’s obviously a concern when any driver is called before us.”

source: http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/2015/ ... incidents/

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

sounds as though there is a cultural problem with drivers seeing their peers commit breach of peace and follow suit. I think the smoking thing is endemic there are a lot of drivers here smoke in their cars including some that work for me and despite the warnings they persist and probably will until the council takes action

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Why wait for the Council to take action? Why don't you take the lead and deal with the ones that smoke in their cars and work for you?

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Grandad,

Guilty of aiding and abetting