Taxi Driver Online

'Drug driver' refused taxi driver's licence by council

https://www.ardrossanherald.com/news/25 ... e-council/

A DRIVER who was previously caught behind the wheel while 16-times over the legal limit has been refused a taxi driver’s licence.

James Moore appeared before North Ayrshire Council's licensing committee on Wednesday, March 5.

When he applied for the licence, a police background check revealed he had a prior conviction for driving offences.

Sergeant David Markin said Moore had been disqualified for two years and fined £400 for two charges under the Road Traffic Act at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court in February 2022.

On April 5 the previous year, he was found to have driven a motor vehicle with a proportion of benzoylecgonine in his blood was 800 micrograms per litre - exceeding the allowed limit of 50mcg per litre.

Moore was also convicted of being behind the wheel while the proportion of cocaine in his system was 55mcg per litre of blood, exceeding the 10mcg per litre limit.

The board were informed that the incident took place in the Smithstone Way area of Irvine.

Taking this into account, Police Scotland representatives stated they did not believe Moore was a fit and proper person to be granted a taxi driver’s licence and objected to his application.

It was also noted that his sentencing date meant Moore was disqualified from driving at the time of applying for his taxi licence and had not been driving for the required period of a year prior to this.

Making his case, Moore said: “I made a mistake in life and everyone is entitled to a second chance. I don’t drink anymore and certainly don’t take drugs.

“I have a second child on the way and would like a more sustainable job. I hold my hands up to everything I did and know I was out of order. I can only apologise.”

Committee member councillor Christina Larsen moved that the application should be rejected.

She said: “We have to consider the level you were over the limit in each case.

“Holding a taxi driver’s licence in North Ayrshire is a privilege and we have high expectations of our taxi drivers.”

The committee unanimously agreed a motion from Cllr Larsen to refuse the licence owing to the applicant not being a fit and proper person in light of previous convictions.

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IDFIMH

Not sure I have ever seen or heard of our trade as being a 'more sustainable job'.

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IDFIMH

Eh? Isn't this the same council who recently gave a badge to a woman who was just a year or so out of a ban, and had been banned twice since 2020 - once for drunk driving, and later for unfit through drink or drugs.

To be fair, the above councillor was one of those who actually objected to the licence, but it was granted by seven votes to three.

So at least she's consistent, but it's surely incorrect to say we have high expectations, as highlighted in the quote above. It should maybe read 'I' rather than 'we'.

http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/vie ... 2&p=435528

Is not inconsistency a hallmark of council committee's ?

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

Think it's stupidity.

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IDFIMH

I was trying to be charitable !

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