captain cab wrote:
Taxi driver's speed "disgraceful"
Pete Bevington
16 February, 2007
A TAXI driver who reached speeds of up to 90mph to beat his rivals to a fare was fined and banned from driving for a year, at Lerwick Sheriff Court yesterday (Thursday).
Anwarul Haque Chaudery, aged 41, of Sandveien, Lerwick, admitted dangerous driving along the main A970 road from Quarff to Sumburgh on 12 April last year.
The court heard the police had clocked him driving at 87mph, at 8.20am, from a static speed check in Quarff, but to catch up with him they had to drive 14 miles at speeds of up to 100mph.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said Chaudery, an unemployed father of three with another baby due this week, had been under stress at the time. He faced court proceedings for an insurance fraud, and was experiencing "considerable friction" with other local taxi drivers.
This was his first driving offence in 24 years behind the wheel, but he had lost his taxi licence for three years last year.
Mr Allan said: "He wasn't trying to outrun the police. He was anxious to get (to the airport) so he wouldn't lose out on the fare to any other taxi driver."
Sheriff Graeme Napier described his driving as "disgraceful", adding: "I think this is the worst case of driving I have dealt with since I came here."
He fined him £500 and banned him for a year. Mr Allan said the ban would hamper Chaudery's plans to set himself up in the jewellery trade.
Okay a stupid speed to reach - But! a 12 month ban, I was always under the impression that if the punishment prevented you from earning your living, then a ban was not always in order. Just to clarify what I am saying - there was one guy who actually accrued 31 points YES 31 before being banned.