Driver with nine penalty points loses bid for Glasgow private hire licence
A private hire driver has been refused a new licence after stacking up nine penalty points on his licence – despite assuring Glasgow councillors he would avoid getting any more points Sewa Darar vowed to drive slower as he appeared in front of Glagsow’s licensing and regulatory committee yesterday. But councillors were not convinced and refused his application for a new private hire car driver’s licence.
Committee chair councillor Alex Wilson asked Mr Darar how he would manage not to pick up another three points, which would lead to him being disqualified from driving. Mr Darar sped on the motorway and failed to obey traffic signals, the committee heard. Councillor Wilson asked why the committee should grant Mr Darar a licence knowing he “is at risk of losing it.”
Mr Darar replied: “I like to think I am a good taxi driver.” The meeting heard Mr Darar had been driving in the Cumbernauld area when he picked up the points and he wanted to gain a licence to operate as a private hire driver in Glasgow. SNP councillor Wilson said: “You were acting in the capacity of a private hire driver and you have amassed nine points.
That is a worry.” Mr Darar said: “I have been driving my whole life – for 45 years.” Commenting on Mr Darar’s accumulation of penalty points, Councillor Wilson told him: “It is not as if you have been just unlucky.”
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