Taxi Driver Online

Applied for my black hackney license and the police check came back with a speeding fine I got (72mph in a 50). I need to go in front of the licensing board for my license.

Has anyone attended one of these meetings before and what's the fromat?

You go in, say you are sorry for the ticket, say it was the only one in X years of driving (if it was), say you are looking forward to driving taxis, say they will never see you in front of them again and everything should be fine.

The fact that Glasgow had a murderer driving a while back should also put things into prospective.

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IDFIMH

Just in case any libel lawyers are looking in, the person had actually been convicted for 'culpable homicide' rather than murder, which is like manslaughter, I think.

In these situations I think the press usually use the term 'killer' rather than 'murderer'.

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

I've attended a good few times

You go in, like a mini kangaroo court (complete with the ALL RISE malarky) - there is a "dock" with a mic, the councellors are in a semi-circle in front of you, with the Chief Constable below you to the right and various other Admin staff taking minutes etc.

They shout your name, what you have applied for, and whether the Police have OBJECTED or MADE A RECOMENDATION on account of your application - the Chief Constable now stands up and reads a statement of what you are charged with and the circumstances etc

The Chairman for the day, usually Clr John Moynes asks you if you have anything to say - you say blah blah I was silly, won't happen again etc - he may ask what respomsibilities you have (e.g Family, Mortgage etc)

He then asks the other board members if they have any questions - then you go and sit down.

They have a short recess after all applicants have been heard, then come back and shout out ALL the decisions - either Granted, Granted with a warning, Refused etc

And thats basicly it.

Only embarrasing thing is - all the other driver/applicants sitting behind you sniggering when you are up grovelling - but you hear some stories!

If you need anymore info - just ask (I've been there a good few times for similar stuff to you)

Charlie

p.s What does it say on the letter??

Have the Police OBJECTED or MADE A RECOMENDATION?

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The views and comments of Charlie are virtual only - as this is t'internet boys and girls!

No running to the bosses - nobody likes a grass!

Just so you know what you are up against, this is where trumped up little councillors get to play God and boy don’t they know it. Not only do they have an inordinate amount of power they are answerable to practically no one. They don’t even have to make sense of their own decisions. Once you have been through the process though you can consider yourself a fully fledged ar** kisser. Get use to it this probably won’t be your last appearance.

BTW I usually take the other route and tell them to stick the licence up their arse. Strangely enough this got me suspended for a month, apparently “not a fit and proper person” to drive a taxi. Not only don’t they know what a “fit and proper person” is, they couldn’t explain how I become fit after a month’s holiday but there I was four weeks later a new man.

You have another option, try and find out which one if not all are on the take?:shock:

Wee brown envelope to the right councillor should do the trick, no questions asked.

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

OMG, i dont think i'd EVER get a licence up there
"In the Dock" "all rise" "grovel"
Who the F*@# do they think they are??

They are "The Powers At Be" mate.

LOL

It is a bit of a joke - best part is anyone, including The Press, can observe the procedings with no questions asked

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The views and comments of Charlie are virtual only - as this is t'internet boys and girls!

No running to the bosses - nobody likes a grass!

Edinburgh licensing sounds a lot like the rest of the one party states we have throughout Central Scotland


THE BOARD CHAIRMAN




THE LICENSING BOARD

So does everyone have to appear in person, or is it just if there's a problem with your application?

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Only if there's a problem with the application. Really it's just about making people bow and scrape so everyone gets the message who's in charge.

Ali T got suspended for a month for non-payment of a parking fine. On the recommendation from he cab inspector of course.

"Not a fit and proper person no less"


Makes perfect sense to me

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

You appear if there is/has been a problem with regards to anything from Criminal Offences, Driving Offences, Council "offences" etc etc

You have to appear in person, or they will deal with the matter in your abcence (by suspending you, or refusing you a licence 99% of the time)

To give you an example, I was pulled up when I just came back to PH after a few years in another job - I was pulled up for a driving offence that happened in 1996.

It holds up you application by months - I have a mate who just applied and thats him finally been Granted after waiting since the begining of November when he applied.

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The views and comments of Charlie are virtual only - as this is t'internet boys and girls!

No running to the bosses - nobody likes a grass!

Yes, but the Chief Constable objects to you licence on the grounds you are “Not a fit and Proper Person” claiming you are in fact your not fit to drive a taxi. Shouldn’t he just say Joe Bloggs has a conviction for X instead of trying to prejudice your case? Then there’s the point he is giving an opinion, passing a judgement and not just presenting the facts as ruled upon by a court of law, in other words “judge, jury and executioner”.

When I went before the council they trotted out pervious cases even ones they failed to secure a conviction on like being on a mobile phone. The case never even got into court.

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

I suppose all this is just a product of the adversarial system - like the prosecution in a criminal case, they proffer their version and opinion on the case as does the defence, and the jury makes up its mind between the two competing cases. It's the same in the committee system, but instead of being judged by your peers on the jury, it's the councillors elected by your peers

And I suspect that the reason that a matter was presented that you weren't convicted for is because of the lower burden of proof in the committee system - in the criminal courts the case has to be proved beyond all reasonable doubt, whereas I assume in the committee system it's merely on the balance of probabilities?

So in a criminal course if the jury has any doubts then you get off, whereas in a civil court of licensing committee it basically comes down to which side the jury or committee believes more.

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

The Police only object if in the letter it states just that.

If it states in the letter Strathclyde Police has mad a Recomendation - he does exactly as you have said abut good old Joe Bloggs - he makes the council aware of your previous.

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The views and comments of Charlie are virtual only - as this is t'internet boys and girls!

No running to the bosses - nobody likes a grass!

All the more reason why drivers should join some form of representative body, who give you free access to the men in wigs for situations like the above.