Torbay taxi driver licence REVOKED after failure to disclose disqualification and speeding offences
- Perry Richardson
- Mar 21
- 2 min read
A licensed taxi driver in Torbay has had his Hackney carriage and private hire licence revoked with immediate effect after councillors determined he failed to meet the required “fit and proper” standard, following an undisclosed driving disqualification and further penalty points.
Members of Torbay Council’s Regulatory Sub-Committee reached a unanimous decision to revoke the dual licence held under Section 61 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976. The ruling followed evidence that the driver had not informed the authority of a six-month driving disqualification and additional speeding convictions.
According to the Licensing Officer’s report, information received from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency revealed the disqualification and subsequent penalty points, which had not been disclosed in line with the council’s Taxi Policy 2022. The breach was only identified during a routine database check rather than through driver notification.
The committee heard that had the disqualification been reported at the time, the licence would have been revoked immediately, requiring a fresh application once the ban had expired. Under local policy and guidance aligned with the Department for Transport standards, drivers disqualified for “totting up” offences are typically expected to wait five years before being relicensed.
Regulatory sub-committee rules driver no longer ‘fit and proper’ following undisclosed DVLA ban and repeated traffic offences
In its reasoning, the committee applied the established “fit and proper person” test, considering whether they would feel comfortable allowing a vulnerable individual to travel alone with the driver. Members concluded their answer was “an unequivocal no”, citing concerns over repeated speeding offences and failure to comply with licensing obligations.
Further scrutiny of the driver’s record showed multiple speeding incidents within a three-year period, including an offence committed prior to the disqualification but resulting in points added afterwards. Members expressed concern that the driver’s acknowledgement that “speeding was not acceptable” had not prevented repeated violations, raising questions over professional judgement and road safety standards.
The committee also raised concerns about the driver’s attitude and lack of accountability. While the licensed cabbie cited difficulties using the internet and reliance on third parties to handle administrative tasks, members determined that ultimate responsibility for reporting convictions remained with the licence holder. The Licensing Officer confirmed that no notifications had been received beyond a minor disclosure during a previous renewal.
Members also referenced a prior formal warning issued in 2021 for a separate breach of taxi policy, alongside the driver’s admission that he had not revisited the policy since it was first issued to him in 2008. This, they concluded, demonstrated a disregard for regulatory requirements expected of licensed drivers.
