Plymouth taxi operator fined for running firm without a licence
A TAXI operator has been fined after she ran her private hire firm before the council had approved her licence.
Susan Colwill of Hornchurch road, Ernesettle appeared at Plymouth magistrates court yesterday where she pleaded guilty to operating vehicles as a private hire from an address in Wolseley Road without having a current operator's licence.
The court heard how a joint operation by taxi licensing officers and Plymouth police officers on May 12 this year at the Barbican uncovered the case, which was brought by Plymouth City Council.
Officers saw a Ford Mondeo with two passengers and noticed the driver, Paul Colwill, and the name of the firm on the side "Call A Cab".
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The taxi licensing officers were aware that the firm had not been granted an operator's licence, and that the application had been made by Mr Colwill's wife.
Investigators contacted Mrs Colwill who admitted she had wrongly assumed she could take bookings while the application was going through.
The court heard she immediately suspended the taxi work and handed over all relevant paperwork.
The court also heard she had previously held an operator's licence for three years.
Colwill, who represented herself, read from a statement which said she acted "without malice" and had shut down the firm's phones and office immediately.
She also explained the past few months awaiting court hearing had seen her family suffer from a reduced income and she was only employed by another taxi firm on a part-time basis as the majority did not want her to work for them, knowing she was planning on running her own firm.
Magistrates fined Colwill £200, ordered her to pay £300 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
Comments
by SteveDavis01
Friday, November 02 2012, 11:04PM
“When will the Jouenalists ever know the difference between a Taxi and a mini cab.
A mini cab is not a Taxi you stupid twit. A mini cab is a cab that is for rental ie pre bookings. A Taxi is a mode of transport that can be hailed from the street at any given time if his for hire light is lit.”
by MPstink1
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 12:04AM
“Call a cab....more like... Call a cowboy.”
by CharlieDodd
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 4:19PM
“Foreigners seem to be able to come here and start driving taxis easy enough, I wonder if the council checks up on them too?”
by Hearald
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 4:07PM
“I wonder how long the council takes to approve a licence? guessing a long time as its the council”
by PLYMFOX01
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 3:25PM
“Its her own stupid fault, end of.”
by trudie2010
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 2:14PM
“If she wasn't licensed, the passengers were probably not insured, isn't that how it works, she is just another money grabbing git who can't wait for anything.”
by CharlieDodd
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 2:07PM
“..Article quote- 'a joint operation by taxi licensing officers and Plymouth police officers uncovered the case'..
Sounds like she was grassed up”
by micromarke
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 11:35AM
“She new the score alright!”