A motorist with a history of drink driving and speeding offences has been denied a taxi licence for the fourth time by Stockton Council. Despite claiming he is now a “changed person,” his past convictions and recent speeding offences raised serious concerns about public safety. The committee ruled that he was not a fit and proper person to hold a private hire licence, emphasizing the importance of responsible driving for passenger transport.
Repeated Attempts to Secure a Taxi Licence
The driver, whose name has not been disclosed, has persistently tried to obtain a private hire taxi licence. His applications were rejected in 2007, 2008, and 2009 before he was granted a licence in 2010. However, his licence was revoked in 2012 after being convicted of drink driving and possession of cannabis.
His most recent application was reviewed by Stockton Council’s licensing committee, which examined his past record, including:
- Drink driving convictions in 2012 and 2014
- Speeding offences in 2022 and 2023 (including an incident with a child passenger)
- Failure to declare previous licence refusals and Wolverhampton Council’s rejection
- Six penalty points on his driving licence
A Troubled Driving History
The driver admitted to the committee that he was previously “immature, careless, and reckless.” His history of offences includes:
- 2010: Received two warnings, including one for speeding within six months of getting his taxi licence.
- 2012: Convicted of drink driving and cannabis possession, leading to a 14-month driving ban and the revocation of his private hire licence.
- 2014: Another drink driving conviction, resulting in a three-year ban (reduced by nine months) and a fine.
- 2022 & 2023: Caught speeding while transporting a child, accumulating six penalty points on his driving licence.
Despite these infractions, he insisted he had changed, stating that he had not consumed alcohol for eight years and was now a responsible family man with a mortgage and children.
Council’s Concerns Over Speeding and Honesty
The committee highlighted several key concerns in their decision to reject his application:
- Speeding While Transporting a Child
- He was caught speeding in 2022 and 2023 while carrying a child passenger with an assistant.
- His defence? He “did not see the speed van” and was “caught off-guard.”
- The committee was alarmed by his lack of attention while transporting vulnerable passengers.
- Failure to Declare Previous Rejections
- He did not disclose his previous refusals from Stockton Council or Wolverhampton Council.
- He claimed he “did not realise he had to” provide this information.
- Lack of Responsibility and Poor Driving Attitude
- He admitted he would have slowed down if he had “seen the speed camera”—not because of road safety, but to avoid being caught.
- The committee ruled this was not the attitude expected of a taxi driver.
Final Decision: Licence Refused
After reviewing the evidence, the committee unanimously rejected his application, stating:
- They would not feel safe allowing their own families to travel with him.
- His previous convictions and recent speeding offences demonstrated an ongoing lack of responsibility.
- His failure to disclose previous refusals and convictions raised concerns about honesty and transparency.
The council concluded that he was not a fit and proper person to hold a private hire licence.
Stockton Council’s decision highlights the strict safety standards required for taxi drivers. Public transport drivers must be responsible, honest, and prioritize passenger safety. Despite the applicant’s claims of reform, his past convictions and recent traffic offences showed a pattern of reckless behaviour. This case serves as a reminder that driving history matters when applying for a role that requires public trust.
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