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-OEM
Page 34
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Serial drink-driver must take test to get back on the road
A DRIVER with a series of drink-driving convictions has lost his appeal against South Eastern & Metropolitan Traffic Commissioner Christopher Heaps' decision not to return his HGV driving licence until he retakes the test.
Stewart Taylor of east London appealed against the TC's decision to the Thames Magistrates.
For VOSA, Anthony Ostrin said that Taylor had been convicted of three drink-driving offences, in 1986,1991 and 1997.0n the last oceasion,he had been disqualified for four years, made the subject of a combination order for 80 hours' community service and put on probation for 12 months, Taylor told the court that since his car driving licence was returned to him he had been driving heavy goods vehicles off the road and had full knowledge of how to drive them. He now wanted to earn a living but the TC had refused to return his vocational entitlement to him.
Ostrin argued that the TC's decision was both reasonable and proper, and that such decisions were made in the interests of road safety.
Refusing Taylor's application, and ordering him to pay £100 costs,the magistrates told him that they took into account his conduct and the fact that they had heard nothing to convince them that the TC's original decision was wrong.