Failing to pay licence fee is costly for cabbie
http://www.thisisnorthdevon.co.uk/news/ ... ticle.html
A CABBIE who lost a month's income because he forgot to pay his taxi licence on time says a local council should have shown him leniency.
David Pert, 41, from Yelland, said he and his family had been left facing homelessness and emotional turmoil because North Devon Council was not prepared to bend the rules.
But the local authority said it would have been breaking the law if it had done what Mr Pert wanted.
Mr Pert, who has been driving a taxi since 1996, said he went in August to the Civic Centre to pay for a criminal record check and his licence at the same time.
He said he was told it was too early to pay for his licence then, so he made a note to pay at the correct time.
But he forgot to pay in time and his licence expired.
The council sent him a letter saying he would have to reapply for his licence. He offered to pay for his licence then, but the council refused, saying that would be against the law.
Mr Pert said: "I said I was really sorry and I would come down and pay the £40. They refused to budge."
He asked the council to take into account his personal circumstances: he has to pay private rent for his home and has two disabled children who need transport in the vehicle he is now unable to use, because he has run out of money.
"Surely there can be exceptions," he added.
He will now have to take a test on October 27, at a cost of £76, before he can get his licence back. Altogether he has lost about a month of income because he forgot to pay his licence on time.
North Devon Council said it could not comment on Mr Pert's case because of "data protection issues".
Katy Nicholls, the authority's licensing manager, said: "Each Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers Licence issued by the council has an expiry date. A reminder is sent out in advance of this date, which is also displayed on all licensed drivers' lapel badges.
"An expired licence cannot be renewed unless an application is made before so we encourage drivers to allow plenty of time and welcome their applications before they expire.
"Drivers who fail to make their renewal application on time are treated as a grant application, which now means taking and passing two tests.
"This was introduced to improve taxi and private hire driver standards and was made clear in a letter sent to all licensed drivers in January.
"It is unfortunate that the council is not legally able to renew a licence which has expired.
"The council will endeavour to again remind all of its licensed drivers of the need to apply in plenty of time, and the consequence of letting their licence expire."
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