Taxi company owner penalised for using unlicensed driver
A Wakefield taxi company owner, who used an unlicensed driver, has been hit with a fine and disqualified from driving for six months.
At Leeds Magistrates’ Court, Debra Tingey, 54, of Woodmoor Road, Hemsworth pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle with an unlicensed driver, employing an unlicensed driver and allowing the use of an unlicensed vehicle when no insurance was in force.
Keith Walker, 53, of Lodge Street, Hemsworth was seen driving a private hire car in South Elmsall which was owned and operated by Tingey of 001 Cars / Tingey Taxi’s when he did not have a private hire driver licence.
Walker was also seen again driving the same car having picked up passengers from Kinsley and driving them to South Kirby.
In court, magistrates gave Tingey credit for entering a guilty plea. She was fined £460 for the two Road Traffic Act offences and no insurance offences and was handed a six month disqualification from driving. She was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £46 and legal costs of £685.65, totalling £1651.65.
Walker pleaded guilty by post and will be sentenced later in the month.
“Our priority, as a council, is to keep the public safe and this case should send out a firm message to everyone that this behaviour will never be tolerated.”
Private hire vehicles are licensed through the Wakefield Council Licensing Department and once licensed, can only be driven by a driver who has been fully vetted and licensed.
The matter will now be referred to the Wakefield Council Licensing Committee who will determine whether to revoke the company’s operator license.
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