A County Durham man who used an unlicensed vehicle to transport children to school
without appropriate insurance has been ordered to pay over £450 and given six points.
Durham County Council took legal action after receiving information that a company
named Shoey’s Taxis was using an unlicensed vehicle to take children to and from school.
Officers visited the school in March to check if this was correct and stopped a vehicle
driven by Alan Robertson, of Jubilee Road, Shildon, who was there to pick up two pupils.
The vehicle was not licensed by the council as a private hire vehicle and the 61-year-old
admitted that he aware of this.
He was then sent a letter on 1 April, asking for a copy of insurance documents. These
revealed that the vehicle was not insured for hire purposes and that Robertson was not
named on the policy.
During an interview with the council in May, Robertson confirmed that he had borrowed the
vehicle to complete the home to school contract. He claimed this was because the
licensed vehicle he would normally use wasn’t fit to drive.
Robertson failed to attend Peterlee Magistrates Court, so the case was heard in his
absence.
Magistrates fined him £120 and ordered him to pay £314.50 in costs and a £34 victim
surcharge. Six points were also added to his licence because the vehicle was not
appropriately insured.
Owen Cleugh, Durham County Council’s public protection manager, said: “We take our
duty to protect the public incredibly seriously. All taxis and private hire vehicles are
checked to ensure they are roadworthy and properly insured before they are licensed.
“We hope this case acts as a deterrent to anyone else considering operating without the
correct licence and insurance. Using an unlicensed vehicle puts passengers at risk as no
checks have been made and this will not be tolerated.”
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