Taxi Driver Online

Drunken cab driver hit traffic bollard



A SOUTH Tyneside cabbie denied he had been in a drink-drive accident to police – despite part of a bollard being wedged into the front bumper of his car.

Police had been alerted by a member of the public at about 6am on August 19 last year that a Vauxhall Vectra car – bearing the logo of Express Taxis – had collided with a traffic bollard in Victoria Road West in Hebburn.

Officers contacted the taxi firm to get the details of the driver of the vehicle, Daljinder Basra.

They found the defendant soon afterwards beside the vehicle and near his home. Police discovered that the 39-year-old smelled of alcohol – and noted significant damage to his car.

When arrested, he recorded an alchol reading of 145mg of alcohol of 100ml of blood – nearly two times above the legal limit.

Basra, of Melrose Avenue, Hebburn, later admitted he had been involved in an accident, but entered not guilty pleas to charges of driving with excess alcohol and failing to report an accident when the case first came to court last year.

He was convicted of both offences after a trial at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court this week and was back at the court yesterday for sentencing.

He was banned from driving for 22 months and ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work.

But the driving ban will be suspended while an appeal against the verdict by the defendant is heard.

Glenda Beck, prosecuting, said: “Police were called about a taxi collision, causing significant damage to a bollard.

“The driver was the defendant, and he was on duty at this time driving a silver Vauxhall Vectra.

“Police found the defendant beside the vehicle.

“He smelt of intoxicating liquor. He said he hadn’t been in an accident and was escorted to his home address, which was nearby.

“The vehicle had a flat front tyre and the bollard was wedged in the grill by the front bumper of the vehicle.”

The police noted that the airbags had been activated on the car, but they were not found in it.

Officers spotted them in a wheely bin by Basra’s house.”

The court heard that Basra had worked for Express Taxis for eight years. His licence was suspended by South Tyneside Council once it heard about the incident.

The license has subsequently lapsed and Basra is no longer a licensed taxi driver for South Tyneside Council.

Geoffrey Forrester, defending, said Basra attributed the accident to tiredness.

“He had been shaken up (due to the collision) and had drunk vodka when he got home.

“He will be lodging an appeal against the sentence, and I would ask that the driving disqualification be suspended until it is heard.

“An appeal will be heard, he may be acquitted, he may not. If he is not, then he will start the driving ban.”

No date was set for the appeal against the sentence to be heard.

http://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/crim ... -1-6496034

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

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IDFIMH

Listen, the guy obviously had a drink to calm his nerves after having crashed into the bollard.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"