Taxi Driver Online

I doubt anyone would disagree with the revocation here (and I'd guess the driver has lost interest in the trade anyway), but the headline just gives totally the wrong impression of it all.

Likewise, the high dudgeon from councillors about the horn, zigzags, the Rangers top, not wearing his badge, blah, blah


Taxi driver who drove wearing Rangers strip is refused licence

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/ayrshire/ ... g-35736145

Licensing chiefs were not impressed that the driver had turned out for duty wearing a Rangers top and had no insurance.

A taxi driver who stopped on zig zags and sounded his horn while wearing a Rangers strip has had his application refused after failing to appear before the North Ayrshire Licensing Committee.

Gareth Wilkinson applied to the Licensing Department for a taxi driver’s licence and private hire vehicle licence.

However he failed to turn up at Wednesday’s meeting to explain his actions.

Police Scotland told the meeting that on September 2, 2024, Mr Wilkinson was driving a taxi in Townend Street in Dalry at the junction with Merksworth Avenue. It was displaying a North Ayrshire taxi driver's license number.

The taxi driver stopped on zig zags sounding his horn. Officers approached him and found he did not have insurance for his taxi. The vehicle was uplifted and removed.

At the time of the incident, Mr Wilkinson was dressed in a Rangers strip and not wearing his taxi driver’s identification.

Police Scotland were of the opinion that he was driving a taxi and was not insured to drive it.

This was a risk to public safety and the applicant was considered not a fit person to have a taxi licence.

Cllr Christina Larsen said: “Considering this has been continued since March and Mr Wilkinson was not shown I would propose that we refuse both renewals."

Tory Group Leader Cameron Inglis said: "The behaviour shown by the driver was well out of the law and also our own policy and what we expect of our drivers.

“The one that annoyed me most was the wearing of the football top. I think as soon as you put that on you are looking to antagonise people especially if you are working in a public role.

"Also the lack of care parking on zig zags. I agree with Cllr Larsen that we should go straight to revoking the licence.”

Chair Eleanor Collier added: “Driving a taxi without insurance is a serious offence and one we should take quite seriously.

“The breaking of the dress code by having a football top is way out of the dress code and not having a valid ID is contrary to our policy which is a key part of the safety we insist on.

"The applicant has had the opportunity on two occasions to come and explain his behaviour, he has chosen not to.”

A proposal from Cllr Larsen, seconded by Cllr Inglis to revoke both licences, was passed unanimously by the committee.

Looks like he was a PHD, effectively, but the taxi badges in Scotland entitle the driver to drive either/or.

So it's a dual badge in the terms used in England, effectively, but legally they're classed as a taxi driver's badge in the legislation, as opposed to a distinctly private hire badge.


I'd guess that should actually say he was displaying a PH plate, strictly speaking.


He's bang on about the latter point. But the wearing of a football top was the one that 'annoyed him most' out of all the stuff above?

For readers down south, though, there's a lot of Celtic v Rangers-style baggage down that way, which partially explains it all, presumably.

I think Kilmarnock FC - which is the HQ of East Ayrshire, and seems to be very close to the border of this council - is effectively a regional version of Rangers FC