Two Torbay licensed taxi drivers SUSPENDED after each accumulated nine penalty points

Two Torbay taxi drivers have received immediate three-month suspensions after each accumulated nine penalty points while holding council-issued driver licences.

Torbay Council’s Regulatory Sub-Committee considered the separate cases at its meeting on 23 July. Members found that the drivers’ repeated motoring offences and failures to meet reporting requirements fell below the standards expected of professional drivers.

Both suspensions can end before the full three months if the drivers successfully complete a RoSPA Level 2 Award in Advanced Driving, or a similar qualification, and provide sufficient written evidence to Torbay Council’s licensing department.

The first driver received three penalty points for speeding on 24 September 2023, another three for failing to comply with traffic light signals on 19 May 2024 and a further three for speeding on 14 September 2025.

The committee heard that two of those offences had not been reported to the licensing authority. The third was disclosed approximately six months after it occurred, despite the driver’s licence conditions requiring notification within 48 hours.

Members were also concerned that the driver had declared on a licence renewal application that there were no convictions. The driver accepted responsibility and did not attempt to excuse either the offences or the reporting failures.

The driver told the committee that they had been going through a divorce, had lost their home and had caring responsibilities for a child alongside a second job. Their partner had previously handled administrative matters, and the driver said they had not paid sufficient attention when completing the renewal application.

Councillors found the account honest and credible and accepted that difficult personal circumstances had affected the driver’s ability to manage their affairs. They also considered changes made to improve driving standards and administrative arrangements.

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However, members found that three motoring offences and repeated failures to comply with licensing conditions demonstrated a lack of professionalism. They decided that a formal warning would be insufficient but accepted that revocation would be disproportionate given the driver’s honesty, remorse and understanding of the issues.

The second driver had accumulated nine points through three speeding offences. These took place on 14 February 2024, 1 January 2026 and 19 February 2026, with the two most recent offences occurring within six weeks of each other.

Not all the offences were reported in accordance with the driver’s licence conditions. The first was not disclosed, while notification of the most recent offence was delayed until after the licensing team requested DVLA check codes from licensed drivers during routine checks.

The driver apologised and told the committee they were embarrassed by the situation. Members heard that the driver’s spouse had been diagnosed with cancer and that the resulting stress had affected the family.

The driver also referred to working night shifts, having received no complaints and receiving positive feedback, including mentions on social media for providing free journeys. The committee noted that a speed limiter had since been fitted and was being used.

Members nevertheless found that the three speeding offences indicated a repeated failure to maintain appropriate speeds. They were also dissatisfied that they had not received a full explanation of why the first speeding matter had progressed to the magistrates’ court.

The committee said the combination of repeated speeding and notification failures demonstrated insufficient understanding of the driver’s licence requirements and Torbay Council’s taxi policy. It determined that a warning would not adequately reflect the seriousness of the case or maintain confidence in the licensing system.

In addition to completing an advanced driving qualification, the second driver must read and familiarise themselves with Torbay Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy during the suspension. A copy must then be kept in the licensed vehicle whenever the driver is working.

The suspensions took immediate effect under Section 61 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976. Torbay Council took no action against either driver’s vehicle proprietor licence because the concerns related to their conduct behind the wheel rather than their suitability as proprietors.