Taxi Driver Online

I've said on previous occasions that it's unwise not to disclose "all" warnings and convictions when applying for a license. Here is one instance where such a decision probably played a major part in the driver losing his license.

You would have thought that a person who took on the responsibility of leading a Taxi organisation would have better judgement?

It is always best to disclose convictions because at least it gives you a chance to put forward mitigating circumstances if you are ever asked by the council to explain yourself?

Depending on what Mr Crowe determinded as massive, I think his assumption that a massive bill from the Magistrates court for this type of hearing, was probably unfounded?
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The Northern Echo

September 2, 2006

HEADLINE: CABBIE TOLD HE IS NOT FIT TO HOLD A LICENCE

BYLINE: By Catherine Jewitt

A TAXI driver association's leader has been banned from driving cabs after a council ruled he was not fit to hold a licence.

James Crowe, the owner of Horndale Taxis, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, is unable to drive any of his four cabs after his Hackney carriage licence was withdrawn in June.

It was claimed he had been abusive to staff at Sedgefield Borough Council, which issues the licences.

The 33-year-old chairman of the Sedgefield Taxi Drivers Association, which formed earlier this year to represent the industry locally, had been able to keep driving while an appeal against the ban was ongoing.

But yesterday he explained that he had dropped the appeal, fearing that he could lose his business altogether if he was hit with a massive legal bill.

Mr Crowe said: "I am an experienced driver, keep my cars in good condition and follow the rules but the council has refused to renew my Hackney licence.

"They considered a two-year dispute over business premises and heard about three police cautions from eight or nine years ago, which never made it to court, and are nothing to do with driving a taxi.

"I don't feel I've ever been abusive to staff.

"It is difficult to find new drivers and I might have to go back to driving wagons to support the family and business."

Mr Crowe was expected at court earlier this month to appeal against Sedgefield Borough Council's earlier decision not to issue him with a new badge.

On June 24, Sedgefield Borough Council had refused Mr Crowe's application for renewal on the grounds he was not a fit and proper person to hold such a licence.

He appealed against the decision, believing the reasons cited were irrelevant to his work and threatened his livelihood.

But the appeal was withdrawn on Thursday, August 17, when Mr Crowe had been expected at Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court for the seventh hearing of the case.

Mr Crowe had held a Hackney carriage licence for about ten years continuously since May 2000.

But magistrates heard that he had, on several occasions, been abusive towards council staff and had twice given officers a false name and had ignored a planning contravention notice.

Mr Crowe had been allowed to continue driving on a temporary agreement while the appeal was active but that has now expired.
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And there was me thinking it was 2006.

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IDFIMH

It's issues like this that make me think one of the admendments to the Road Safety Bill might not be a good one.

If the mush can't work during his appeal, then is that fair in this case?

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IDFIMH

Not many Taxi drivers will agree with amending that particular section and the National Taxi associations should write to the DfT stating as such. However the sticking point is what to do with drivers who commit serious offences and who might endanger the public if allowed to drive?

I think it is this area and this area alone that needs looking at. A distinction should be made between offences unlikely to impact on the public and those that are.

Giving councillors the power to remove the livelihood of every driver no matter what the offence, is a step to far.

Regards

JD

I think a number of councils ask the police to make it a bail condition that a driver accused of a sexual offence don't work until, or if, they're cleared.

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IDFIMH