Another one from the Bolton minutes
(And another one making a bit of meal of it.)
Unusually, this doesn't say how long he's been suspended for. And can't be bothered looking up when the meeting took place. But it says he was suspended till July 2022, thus probably almost certainly suspended for a few weeks, or a couple of months or so (the conviction was in January this year).
Anyway, as per usual, he's maybe got off lightly in terms of the IoL guidance and the fact he didn't declare the offence.
Bolton taxi driver suspended for using 'both hands texting'
https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/26 ... s-texting/
A taxi driver was suspended after "holding a phone in both hands and appeared to be texting."
Documents newly released by Bolton Council this week show that the unnamed private hire driver was convicted in January this year of using a mobile phone while in charge of a vehicle.
A behind closed doors meeting at Bolton Town Hall heard how this was a breach of his licence, which the driver had failed to declare.
Newly released council minutes said: "The conviction from January 15, 2026, for breach of requirements as to control of the vehicle mobile phones which resulted in a fine of £200 and six points.
"Under the council’s statement of fitness and suitability, this is classed as a major traffic offence, and a conviction date of less than three years would generally mean that an application would be refused.
"The additional information provided from PC Brookfield and read out in the meeting that the notes from the officer stated the driver was holding the phone with both hands and he appeared to be texting.
"The driver had also breached the conditions of his licence by failing to declare the conviction on time and therefore there is reasonable cause to suspend the licence."
A report was put before the committee members at town hall by council director of place Jon Dyson setting out details of the private hire driver’s alleged misconduct.
Extra information was also shared by the driver himself the day before the meeting took place, which the driver then attended alongside his representative.
Each party was then given a maximum of 15 minutes to present their case before the committee members.
After the evidence was heard, Cllr Martin Donaghy, of Tonge with the Haulgh, moved that the driver be suspended, which was seconded by Cllr Fazeelah Khan, of Hulton.
The committee then voted unanimously that the private hire driver be suspended given they believed he was "a fit and proper person to hold a licence at this time."
No action was taken in respect of the licence itself, but this meant that the driver would be suspended up to July 22 this year.
