Former Taxi Driver Prosecuted
A taxi driver whose operator’s licence was revoked amid health concerns after he fell asleep at the wheel has been prosecuted – after he continued to carry fee-paying passengers illegally.
Stephen Lowe, 58, of Llewellyn Street, Pentre, used to hold a joint Private Hire/Hackney Carriage licence with Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, enabling him to operate legally as a taxi driver.
However, his operator’s licence was revoked by the Licensing Committee in October last year following a meeting in which the impact of his sleep apnoea on his ability to be a “fit and proper” driver was considered.
After hearing about two incidents, including one when he fell asleep at the wheel, and a further incident of erratic driving the committee revoked Mr Lowe’s licence, meaning he could no longer legally operate as a taxi driver.
In December, Licensing officers received a complaint that Mr Lowe was still operating as a taxi driver, advertising as “Steve’s Taxis”.
As a result a test purchase exercise was undertaken by Officers. The booking was to take the customer from Fagin’s, Ton Pentre , to Alfred’s in Pontypridd and when he arrived in the car, he took £20 payment from the customers and promised change at the end of the journey.
When the vehicle was close to the Greenfield Pub in Ystrad, it was stopped by police officers, who were accompanied by Licensing Enforcement Officers.
Mr Lowe told them at the side of the road he was the owner of the vehicle and that neither he or the vehicle were licensed or insured to be used in taxi-ing.
He asked if he could “just have a warning” and promised he would not do it again, but was informed he would be interviewed in relation to the matter.
In February of this year, Mr Lowe was interviewed by Licensing officers and confirmed the passengers in his vehicle when he was stopped were paying customers and that he had been working as a taxi driver on the weekends for about a month up until he was stopped.
He also confirmed that he was aware he should not have been operating as a taxi driver without the necessary licences for himself and his vehicle, as well as necessary insurance for his vehicle to be used in such business.
As a result of the offences, he was charged with three offences under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 in relation to him driving a vehicle as a taxi when he and the vehicle did not have the licence to do so.
He was charged with a fourth offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 relating to the fact he was operating as a taxi driver when he did not have the specialist insurance to protect himself, his customers and other motorists in place.
Mr Lowe admitted the four offences when he appeared before Pontypridd Magistrate’s Court on July 18 and was fined a total of £200 and ordered to pay £405 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
He was also disqualified from driving for six months.
In his defence, he said the sleep apnoea he suffers from is now under control and he has a letter from his consultant confirming he is now fit to work as a taxi driver.
He said he was extremely sorry and only did the taxi-ing at the weekends.
Paul Mee, Service Director of Public Health and Prosecution at Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, said: “Taxi drivers are in a huge position of responsibility in terms of their duty of care to their passengers and other road users.
“We work closely with them to ensure they have the necessary licences and insurances they need to continue offering a safe, effective and valued service for passengers in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
“In this case, serious concerns were raised about Mr Lowe’s ability to be a safe taxi driver as a result of his health and a decision was taken to revoke his licence by committee.
“He knew that the decision meant he could no longer operate as a taxi driver, yet he continued to take fee-paying passengers on journeys. He was not licensed or insured to do so, endangering his customers and others, which is why we had to take action.
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