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NOT THE FIRST TIME: Blackpool taxi driver slapped with suspended licence after caught smoking in cab
A Blackpool taxi driver has been handed a licence suspension after being caught red handed smoking in their taxi.
The unnamed driver known as ‘J.S’ in council meeting notes was reported for smoking on 10 June by a Town Hall licensing officer.
During a Public Protection Sub-Committee meeting on 20 July, members were informed the taxi driver was caught smoking in their hackney cab after TWO previous warnings from the licensing authority. The cabbie was previously found to be smoking in the cab in September 2019 and July 2020.
Mr Ryan Ratcliffe, Licensing Enforcement Office, noted that despite the previous interventions by the Licensing Service this had not deterred the cabbie from continuing to smoke in their vehicle and recommended the minimum of a suspension.
The licensed taxi driver did express their regret and acknowledged that the actions were unacceptable. The cabbie also said they did not smoke in front of customers and asked Members on the Committee to take into consideration that in over 30 years of driving the smoking offences had been their only indiscretions.
After the Sub-Committee considered the information provided by both parties it was concluded that Committee Members expressed their concerns over the number of occasions the driver had been caught smoking in their licensed vehicle and noted that previous warnings from the Licensing Service had not been heeded.
Whilst the remorse of the driver was noted, Members considered the behaviour fell well below the standards expected of a licensed driver and therefore agreed to impose a four week suspension.
