.jpg)
TOTTING UP: Police stop private hire driver travelling to pick up passenger with illegal tyre who now faces 12 point court date
A private hire driver with 12 points on their DVLA record is set to appear before magistrates after police discovered a tyre with less than the minimum legal tread depth.
The locally licensed private hire vehicle was stopped during road checks conducted by Avon and Somerset Police. According to the officer involved, the driver was travelling to collect a passenger at the time.
Police also found that the driver was not wearing or displaying the badges required under local licensing conditions. The licensing authority was already aware that the motorist had accumulated 12 penalty points.
For most drivers, reaching 12 or more penalty points within three years can result in a driving ban under the totting-up system. However, magistrates may decide against disqualification where a defendant proves that a ban would cause exceptional hardship.
PC Patrick Quinton, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: “Yesterday while doing road checks, I found a locally licensed PHV with a tyre under 1.6mm and the driver failing to wear/display badges. He was on his way to pick up a passenger.
“What makes this one unusual is the driver has 12 DVLA points, which the council already knows about. You may know that magistrates can choose not to disqualify under totting up if the defendant can show it would cause exceptional hardship.
“That reason can only be used once. So, the driver will go to court for this offence and eventually be disqualified. I’ll update you when I know the result. Have a safe shift.”
The legal minimum tread depth for cars, including taxis and private hire vehicles, is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre and around its entire circumference. A defective tyre offence can attract three penalty points, meaning any further endorsement could take the driver beyond the usual threshold for mandatory disqualification.
The final penalty and any driving ban will be determined by the court. Separately, the relevant licensing authority may consider whether the tyre defect, badge breach and wider driving record affect the individual’s continued fitness to hold a private hire driver or vehicle licence.
