A TAXI driver from Stratford has been suspended for failing to report his driving convictions.
The 65-year-old was suspended for 12 weeks by Stratford District Council’s licensing panel on July 23 for failing to report three driving convictions to the local authority.
The convictions totalled nine penalty points on his licence. The existence of these penalty points was only revealed as part of his application to renew his dual driver’s licence. The points had been incurred between the period of April 2023 to March 2025.
SDC’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 seven days of such a conviction being imposed.’
The driver was also requested to provide a DVLA share code to the licensing department every three months for the duration of the next 18 months, 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, and any such appeal must be brought within 21 days from the date on which the notice of the decision is served. However, the driver has chosen not to appeal, and the suspension has commenced.
SDC’s neighbourhood services spokesperson Coun Lorraine Grocott said: “Public safety is our highest priority when determining whether a driver is fit and proper to hold a licence. All licensed drivers and their vehicles are expected to meet the high standards set by the district council. In this case, the driver’s conduct did not meet those standards.”
