A taxi driver has been penalised by Tamworth Borough Council under the ‘Driver Penalty Points Scheme’ and will receive points on their licence for a three-year period and a fixed penalty notice of £50.
The penalty points scheme provides a consistent approach to dealing with unacceptable conduct such as failures to abide by the council’s code of conduct, licence conditions, or minor offences when revocation, suspension, prosecution may be disproportionate.
At approximately 8:55am on Tuesday 27 June, whilst travelling onto Lichfield Street, a Licensing Officer observed a taxi vehicle with the plate displayed in the rear window.
The driver was also observed smoking whilst driving the vehicle. Smoking is strictly forbidden whilst driving a private hire vehicle. The policy states that ‘drivers must not, at any time, smoke or permit passengers to smoke in their vehicle as required by the Health Act 2006 and the Smoke-Free (Exemptions and Vehicles) Regulations 2007’. This includes e-cigarettes and vaping. No smoking signs must be displayed clearly visible to passengers.
Points were awarded for failure to display external/internal licence plate as required - four points; and evidence of smoking in vehicle - three points.
Councillor Martin Summers, Tamworth Borough Council, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Health and Community Partnerships, said: “A majority of our hard-working taxi drivers are fantastic and do their trade and the town proud.
“It is important that taxi drivers who sometimes choose to not comply with the rules and law, realise that anyone could be observing them as they drive on our streets. Why risk your livelihoods as professional drivers, when it is easy to drive safely and follow the rules?”
Notes:
- The points will be on the taxi driver’s licence for three years.
- If a driver gets more than 12 points in a rolling three-year period, they will appear before committee.
- The points are against the driver’s Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Drivers Licence not his DVLA licence.
The smoke-free law came into effect in July 2007, with few exceptions the law prohibits smoking in virtually all enclosed or substantially enclosed public places, workplaces and public/work vehicles.
There are three specific criminal offences contained within the Act:
- Failure to display no-smoking signs which can result in a fixed penalty notice of £200 or a maximum fine of £1,000.
- Smoking in smoke-free premises or vehicles which can result in a fixed penalty notice of £50 or a maximum fine of £200.
- Failing to prevent smoking in smoke-free premises or vehicles which carries a maximum fine on summary conviction of £2,500.