Driver did not know psv licence was necessary
Page 26
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
ALLEGED shortcomings in the psv regulations were referred to by a defending solicitor before Taverham (Norwich) magistrates.
Before the court charged with unauthorised use of four psv and further charged with'employing drivers without psv licenses was Dolphin Autos Ltd, Norwich. In the same case four of the company's drivers were charged with driving without psv licenses.
The court was told by Mr J. H. Bostock prosecuting for Traffic Commissioners that in his view it was a serious case as the vehicles had been converted to carry upwards of eight people and had been contracted to Norfolk country council departments for carrying handicapped people to work and training establishments. When stopped each driver said he was not aware that psv licenses were required and that he was not collecting fares.
Defending the company and all four drivers. Mr A nthony Jordan said legislation seemed to concern itself only with the hire and reward aspect of the matter. In the case of two vehicles they had now been hired to a department of the council which was using its own drivers. This meant that they were operating the same vehicles without a psv driver in the same circumstances and this was quite lawful.
He also referred to an exemption connected with agricultural use and said that two of the vehicles were used to take handicapped people to assist with harvesting. The regulations permitted this between June and December hut not at other times of the year although driver, vehicle and situation were the same. Mr Jordan added that when the offences were pointed out the company had operated the service free of charge for one month at a cost to the firm of £400 rather than inconvenience children who had to be taken to a special training school. He summed the legislation up as a "very odd set of regulations".
Dolphin Autos, who pleaded guilty were fined 10 on each of eight charges and E40 costs. The four drivers, who also pleaded guilty, were each fined £5.