Dual hackney carriage and private hire driver has licence revoked for using Facebook while driving

A Stockton dual hackney carriage and private hire driver has had his licence revoked after being filmed fiddling with his phone while driving a paying customer. 

Members of the council's licensing committee were asked to consider a report and determine what action to take in relation to the continued fitness of the man who was caught scrolling through his Facebook app during a journey.

The dual licence holder was in attendance at his hearing where he was given the opportunity to make representation. 

During his hearing, the driver showed remorse and said if he were allowed to continue driving he would never do the same again.

The Committee found that the unnamed driver had not been wholly truthful with the Licensing Officer when interviewed, as he had informed the Officer that he was accessing a messenger app on his mobile as he was expecting a message from his wife. 

Video evidence was presented to the committee along with a witness statement. After viewing the evidence, the committee was able to determine that the man's claims were false. The incident which took place on Sunday 14 July was posted across social media by the passenger and was viewed over 44,000 times. The Committee came to the conclusion that given their findings there was sufficient reasonable cause to revoke the man's hackney carriage and private hire licence.  The man was no longer deemed to be a fit and proper person to hold a licence. Given these concerns, the Committee resolved that public safety was a relevant consideration and the revocation was with immediate effect. 

Image: Source; Pixabay