Taxi firm sent driver without licence on call
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Taxi firm sent driver without licence on call
by Aftab Tue 15 Jan 2008 - 8:15
Taxi firm sent driver without licence on call
Jan 15 2008 by Sonia Sharma, Evening Chronicle
A TAXI firm was hauled before the courts for allowing a driver without a proper licence to pick up children at a special needs school.
Paul Robinson, who worked as a desk clerk for the now-defunct company Chariots for Hire Ltd, was sent to the Percy Hedley Centre, in Forest Hall, on June 18 last year.
Mr Robinson did not have a private hire licence and his car also did not have the correct private hire vehicle licence.
His manager knew this but still allowed him to carry out the job.
The 52-year-old, of George Square, North Shields, pleaded guilty to the offences at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.
The bench heard that he previously held a private hire licence, but it had expired and was not renewed.
John Barton, prosecuting for North Tyneside Council, said: “The council is responsible for legislation in terms of taxi licensing.
“It is designed to provide a degree of protection to the public. Drivers have to prove they are medically fit and have to give details of any criminal convictions. The council has to make sure vehicles are mechanically fit.”
A licensing enforcement officer had spotted the car at the Percy Hedley Centre and approached Mr Robinson. The driver admitted not having the correct licence.
Mr Robinson, of previous good character, told the court he was sorry and said he realised what he did was wrong.
Magistrates gave him a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £100 costs.
No-one from Chariots for Hire Ltd attended court.
But the firm pleaded guilty by letter to knowingly allowing a driver to undertake private hire work without the correct licence and for knowing the vehicle was not licensed.
The company was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £200 costs.
A spokesman from North Tyneside Council said: “We take public safety very seriously.
“Taxis and private hire vehicles and their drivers must be licensed to safeguard the interests of the public and we are pleased that the courts have taken a firm line in this case.
“We will continue to be vigilant on behalf of the public.”
Jan 15 2008 by Sonia Sharma, Evening Chronicle
A TAXI firm was hauled before the courts for allowing a driver without a proper licence to pick up children at a special needs school.
Paul Robinson, who worked as a desk clerk for the now-defunct company Chariots for Hire Ltd, was sent to the Percy Hedley Centre, in Forest Hall, on June 18 last year.
Mr Robinson did not have a private hire licence and his car also did not have the correct private hire vehicle licence.
His manager knew this but still allowed him to carry out the job.
The 52-year-old, of George Square, North Shields, pleaded guilty to the offences at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.
The bench heard that he previously held a private hire licence, but it had expired and was not renewed.
John Barton, prosecuting for North Tyneside Council, said: “The council is responsible for legislation in terms of taxi licensing.
“It is designed to provide a degree of protection to the public. Drivers have to prove they are medically fit and have to give details of any criminal convictions. The council has to make sure vehicles are mechanically fit.”
A licensing enforcement officer had spotted the car at the Percy Hedley Centre and approached Mr Robinson. The driver admitted not having the correct licence.
Mr Robinson, of previous good character, told the court he was sorry and said he realised what he did was wrong.
Magistrates gave him a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £100 costs.
No-one from Chariots for Hire Ltd attended court.
But the firm pleaded guilty by letter to knowingly allowing a driver to undertake private hire work without the correct licence and for knowing the vehicle was not licensed.
The company was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £200 costs.
A spokesman from North Tyneside Council said: “We take public safety very seriously.
“Taxis and private hire vehicles and their drivers must be licensed to safeguard the interests of the public and we are pleased that the courts have taken a firm line in this case.
“We will continue to be vigilant on behalf of the public.”
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