Cornwall cabbies warned to keep their licences up to date after unlicensed driver prosecuted
Private hire drivers in Cornwall have been warned to make sure their licences are up to date after a driver who let his licence lapse was prosecuted.
59 year old Anthony Downer, of Mevagissey, pleaded guilty to driving a private hire vehicle (PHV) whilst unlicensed at Truro Magistrates Court.
It was revealed that Downer's employer had contacted Cornwall Council to confirm his licence expiry date. However, it was dicovered that the private hire driver's licence had expired and he had continued to work.
The PHV driver explained to magistrates that he hadn’t realised that his licence had expired.
Downer was handed an £80 fine and an order to pay £1,000 towards the council’s prosecution costs. He was also ordered to pay a £30 victim surcharge.
The Packet reported that Councillor Rob Nolan, Cornwall’s cabinet member for the environment and public protection, said: “What many people may not realise is that driving a private hire vehicle without the legally required driver licence places members of the travelling public at risk."
