Taxi Driver Online

Man refused taxi driving licence

decision due to conviction for making racist comments to police years ago


A MAN from New Elgin was refused a taxi driving licence by Moray Council yesterday after making racist comments to police officers nearly four years ago.

Craig McDonald, of Meadow Crescent, was convicted and fined £75 in December 2004 for shouting obscenities at police officers outside Joanna's Nightclub, High Street, Elgin.

Members of the council’s licensing committee felt that due to this conviction he was unsuitable to drive a taxi.

Councillor Douglas Ross, deputy chairman of the committee, said: “You have already shown the committee that you can be racist and we cannot grant a licence knowing this.”

Mr McDonald denied that he was racist and blamed the outburst on his drunken state at the time. He said: “This is out of my character. I am not racist in one bit. I have had colleagues in the past who are black and had no problem with them.”

The committee noted that Mr McDonald had failed to write his criminal convictions on his application form for the licence, including a fine of £75 in 2004 for driving without wearing a seatbelt.

Licensing committee chairman Councillor Ronald Shepherd said: “You have shown a total disregard for the law.”

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

He can go back next year, convictions are classed as spent after 5 years arent they?

Not sure...thought all convictions were considered live and it was down to the discretion of the LA....but I'm probably a mile off.

CC

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

Our licensing officer says there is no such thing as a spent conviction for taxi drivers. Every thing must be disclosed from when you were 10 years old.

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Grandad,

I suppose it just goes to show what might have happened to the guys in Melton if they had decided to go to court?

Regards

JD

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