Taxi Drivers Have Licences Revoked
Three Torfaen taxi drivers have appeared in court on separate occasions due to inappropriate behaviour, illegal taxi driving and a licensing hearing.
Licensed taxi driver, Nicky James, was found to be acting in an inappropriate manner towards female customers. The decision was made to revoke Mr James taxi drivers licence and was deemed to not be a fit and proper person to hold this licence.
In April, Hameed Asghar made an unsuccessful appeal against the Licensing Panels decision to refuse to issue a Hackney Carriage / Private Hire drivers licence at Newport Crown Court. The licensing panel made the decision that the applicant was not a fit and proper person to be granted this licence and the applicant appealed to the Magistrates Court.
On Monday 18th April 2016 Mr Mark Jeremiah attended Cwmbran Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to acting as an illegal taxi driver, using a Motability vehicle as an unlicensed taxi and accepting taxi bookings without having the relevant licence to do so as Mr Jeremiah was operating an illegal taxi business within the area of Blaenavon.
Mr Jeremiah was fined £300 for each offence culminating in a fine amount of £900 and was ordered to pay costs to the Local Authority of £522.
A council spokesperson said: ‘Torfaen’s Licensing Section takes a very serious view of unlicensed taxis. All vehicles are tested to a higher standard than a normal MOT to ensure the vehicle is safe to carry the public; all drivers are medically checked and have enhanced Disclosure and Barring checks to ensure they are fit and proper to be a taxi driver.
When booking a taxi, please make sure it is a licensed vehicle. All taxis have signs on the side of their vehicle giving the licence number, a plate on the back of the vehicle and a small tax disc sized window licence in the front of the vehicle. A licensed driver must wear the drivers badge issued by the council which you are entitled to see.’
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