A taxi driver licensed by Stratford-on-Avon District Council has been suspended for a period of 12-weeks by the District Council's Licensing Panel at the end of October, for failing to report three driving convictions to the Local Authority.
The driver, a 74 year old man from Honeybourne, failed to inform the Licensing Authority of these convictions, which totalled nine penalty points on his licence, and the existence of these penalty points was only revealed as part of his application to renew his Dual Driver's licence. The offences occurred over a nine-month period between July 2021 and March 2022.
The District Council's Policy and Conditions for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers state that: 'the proprietor of a licensed vehicle should notify the Council in writing of any conviction or caution recorded against him or of any penalty points incurred within 7 days of such a conviction being imposed.'
Given that this was not the first occasion the driver had been before the District Council's Licensing Panel for this type of matter, the driver was fully aware of the need to report such offences.
The driver was also requested to provide the Licensing Department, a DVLA share code every three months for the duration of his Dual Driver's licence, so that his driving licence can be checked for penalty points that may have accrued.
The decision can be appealed to the Magistrate's Court. Any such appeal must be brought within 21 days from the date on which the notice of the decision is served.
