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Nine penalty points lead to three-year warning for Torbay licensed dual taxi driver
A Torbay taxi and private hire driver has received a three-year written warning after accumulating nine DVLA penalty points from a traffic signal offence and two speeding offences.
The council’s Regulatory Sub-Committee reviewed the driver’s licence on 10 September 2026. The offences took place on 2 September 2024, 16 April 2025 and 1 June 2026. He reported the traffic signal offence and the latest speeding offence to the licensing authority, but did not report the April 2025 speeding offence.
The driver told councillors he had driven through a red traffic signal after initially stopping because a passenger had become aggressive and abusive. The committee accepted that he had faced a stressful situation, but was not satisfied that proceeding through the signal was the correct response.
Councillors said nine penalty points and the failure to report one offence fell below the standards expected of a licensed driver. They accepted his explanation that the omission happened while he was dealing with the traffic signal conviction and was not a deliberate attempt to conceal it.
The committee also heard from Ms Cartwright, who had known the driver for six years and spoke positively about his character and professionalism. Councillors noted that he had no previous complaints, suspensions or other disciplinary concerns during his period of licensing.
The driver told the committee he had begun using his vehicle’s navigation technology to help him observe speed limits and intended to use its speed limiter. Councillors concluded that he remained a fit and proper person to hold a driver’s licence and that suspension would be disproportionate.
The written warning will remain in place for three years and will be brought to the attention of a future sub-committee if further concerns require a hearing during that period.
The driver must complete a RoSPA Defensive Driving Level 2 course within three months, familiarise himself with Torbay’s taxi and private hire policy and keep a copy in his licensed vehicle while on duty.
No action was taken against his hackney carriage vehicle proprietor’s licence.
