Courtesy conviction
Page 19
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ITIE !UGH COURT has lirected Manchester city nagistrates to convict the iperator of a free courtesy ninibus service to Manchester kirport of using a vehicle xithout a PSV operator's icence and employing a Iriver who did not hold a ii.SV driving licence.
The North Western Traffic Commissioners had appealed against the magistrates' decision to acquit Robert Hankinson, trading as Skyways Parking, of the offences.
The magistrates had held that Hankinson had taken all reasonable precautions and had exercised all due diligence to avoid committing any offence by inquiring of the vehicle's bodybuilder and the Commissioners' office whether a licence was necessary.
'Elie vehicle was stopped when carrying passengers on Level Five road at the airport.
Allowing the appeal, Lord Justice Watkins said that owners of motor vehicles are charged a fixed weekly rental to leave their vehicles at
Skyways' premises. As part of that charge, they and their passengers are entitled to "free transportto Manchester Airport.
He held that level Five road is "roadwithin the meaning of the 1981 Public Passenger Vehicles Act.
Ruling that Hankinson had not taken all reasonable precautions and exercised due diligence, Lord Justice Watkins said that ignorance of the law is no defence and Hankinson should have obtained further advice.