Taxi driver loses license after driving without insurance

Friday 15th August 2008

A private taxi driver from Borehamwood has lost his license after pleading guilty to driving without insurance whilst working in Radlett.

Martin Sainty, 42, of White Hall Close, was investigated by licensing officers from Hertsmere Borough Council after questions about his home address were raised by another agency.

Sainty pleaded guilty on Monday at St Albans Magistrates Court to five counts of driving without insurance and two counts of failing to comply with licensing conditions, relating to three incidents in July 2007 and two in January 2008.

He was fined £115 for the offence of no insurance on 25 January 2008, £130 for a similar offence on 26 January 2008, £75 fine on each breach of conditions and £100 costs. He was also disqualified from driving for 24 months and received eight penalty points for each charge.

Councillor Martin Heywood, chair of the licensing sub-committee, said: "As a licensing authority we take our duty very seriously and if private hire drivers decide to try to work without insurance or legal documentation, then we will do our utmost to try to catch them.

"We have a duty to the wider community to look after them and prevent uninsured drivers from working within the taxi industry.”