You can fool some of the people some of the time

[covboy]

http://www.west-midlands.police.uk/latest-news/new...

[Durzel]

It's an all round dumb thing to do really, seeing as nominating a foreign person is bound to flag up a NIP for more rigorous attention.

[dacouch]

I have a feeling a private hire vehicle can only be driven by someone licensed by the local authority so this could also have caused him a problem

[Who me ?]

I'd suggest that the driver need only have LA licence if carrying passengers.

[Raman Kandola]

"When Taylor was interviewed he was offered a £90 fixed penalty for wasting police time and making a false statement but refused this and doggedly chose to go before the courts.

They gave him an easy way out but he chose the hard way! His own fault!

[photosnob]

"He was interviewed and admitted driving the vehicle at the time and was charged with perverting the course of justice after refusing a fixed-penalty ticket."

And still chose not to take a fixed penalty...

I'm hoping that wasn't on the advice of his solicitor!

If he had gone no-comment he would have gotten away with it. Before people jump down my throat that comes from my experiences of the CPS. Would have been very difficult to prove that within all reasonable doubt.

Pointless jailing him though. Achieves nothing and costs a lot.

[ookware]

Photosnob it depends how dogged the police man was feeling, the article says the taxi firm confirmed he was taking fares that night. All they'd need would be a witness statement from operator or passenger confirming who the driver was and he'd be screwed regardless of "no comment" interview.

His foolishness in refusing the subsequent ticket for wasting police time is just inexplicable really.

[photosnob]

ookware said:

Photosnob it depends how dogged the police man was feeling, the article says the taxi firm confirmed he was taking fares that night. All they'd need would be a witness statement from operator or passenger confirming who the driver was and he'd be screwed regardless of "no comment" interview.

His foolishness in refusing the subsequent ticket for wasting police time is just inexplicable really.

I have no doubt that the Police "could" put a case together. I have more doubts if the CPS would run with it.

In my experience the CPS are very happy to run a trial at the Magistrates, however start getting twitchy when they have to do so at an adult court. For a relatively low level offence and without an admission I'm going to assume they may not be so keen.

They know that someone was using the taxi... Did anyone actually see the taxi driver? Would anyone at the firm be willing to give evidence in court? Would they be able to find the passengers, would the passengers be able to identify the taxi driver? Can you prove at that time it was the taxi driver driving? Just because he drove earlier doesn't mean he was driving at that time. Even if they can prove that he drove at some point, for him to be perverting the course of justice they would need to prove that he was lying about driving at that specific time.

Then you get to the point of did he just make a mistake... Did the American friend drive the car the day before? Does the taxi driver struggle with english? Has he been having headaches recently which might have caused problems with his memory...

I am being pedantic, however at Crown Court those are the sort of questions which are asked. It worked out in my favour, when I was put through that. However the difference between the Crown Court and the Magistrates is massive. In the Mags they just have to make an accusation and provide a bit of supporting evidence, at the Crown every tiny thing is up to scrutiny. Much more likely to get off/justice in the Crown - thats why a lot of people who know the system will opt for Crown unless they are completely bang to rights. Sentencing for low level offences doesn't actually alter that much at Crown Court so you have nothing to lose.

[ookware]

I see your point but having personal experience of both Crown Court actually tend to make more sensible decisions than Mags (when put to a simple appeal rather than full blown jury trial) however you are correct that this relies on the CPS running with it in the first place.

I'm regularly surprised anything gets past the CPS having seen some of their previous decisions.

[bad company]

photosnob said:

Pointless jailing him though. Achieves nothing and costs a lot.

Jail will be seen as a way of warning others. He was a twit tho.

[g3org3y]

Raman Kandola said:

"When Taylor was interviewed he was offered a £90 fixed penalty for wasting police time and making a false statement but refused this and doggedly chose to go before the courts.

They gave him an easy way out but he chose the hard way! His own fault!

Wonder if he declined it on the advice of an internet expert or 'lawyer'.

That would be a good thread to read.

[Track Rod]

So:

-He already has seven points on his licence
-He needs his licence to earn a living
-As a taxi driver maybe knows the location of speed cameras (unless it was mobile)

Yet still gets flashed by a camera for speeding, tries to commit a serious offence (PTCOJ) to wriggle his way out of it, gets caught out easily (his employer's records show he was working), has the chance to get off with a much less serious crime for £90, but chooses to go to court and get a custodial sentence?

Anyone else feel uneasy that someone that stupid is permitted to pilot a ton and a bit of metal around public roads?
-Although not for the next four months thankfully.
What a doughnut.

[photosnob]

Track Rod said:

So:

-He already has seven points on his licence
-He needs his licence to earn a living
-As a taxi driver maybe knows the location of speed cameras (unless it was mobile)

Yet still gets flashed by a camera for speeding, tries to commit a serious offence (PTCOJ) to wriggle his way out of it, gets caught out easily (his employer's records show he was working), has the chance to get off with a much less serious crime for £90, but chooses to go to court and get a custodial sentence?

Anyone else feel uneasy that someone that stupid is permitted to pilot a ton and a bit of metal around public roads?
-Although not for the next four months thankfully.
What a doughnut.

I hope the halo never drops from you head.

He made a mistake and then compounded it by probably panicking and making some stupid decisions. Let's not try and make it anything more than it is.

[EskimoArapaho]

photosnob said:

I hope the halo never drops from you head.

He made a mistake and then compounded it by probably panicking and making some stupid decisions. Let's not try and make it anything more than it is.

Er... let's try not to make it anything less than it is.

He made a mistake long before this one. Then instead of learning from that mistake and moderating his driving behaviour, he repeated it enough times/places to get caught again. Still didn't learn his lesson and does it again. Finally, with no more 'free' lessons available, he gets caught at it again and then makes an even more stupid decision.

To completely mangle your metaphor, why should this taxi driver's halo have nine lives?

[photosnob]

EskimoArapaho said:

Er... let's try not to make it anything less than it is.

He made a mistake long before this one. Then instead of learning from that mistake and moderating his driving behaviour, he repeated it enough times/places to get caught again. Still didn't learn his lesson and does it again. Finally, with no more 'free' lessons available, he gets caught at it again and then makes an even more stupid decision.

To completely mangle your metaphor, why should this taxi driver's halo have nine lives?

It must be great being perfect.

He broke a speed limit and then told a lie.

If you find that shocking and appalling then you have lived a much more sheltered life than most.

[EskimoArapaho]

photosnob said:

He broke a speed limit and then told a lie.

(Ignoring the ad homs, as you're a newbie.)

No matter how many times you say it, the above is not an accurate summary of the taxi driver's behaviour. He was given several second chances, and when he used them up, he did something even more stupid. He was jailed, and that's justice.

You're not here for the hunting, are you?

[berlintaxi]

Should have claimed his mum never shaved.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greate...

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greate...

[bad company]

photosnob said:

It must be great being perfect.

He broke a speed limit and then told a lie.

If you find that shocking and appalling then you have lived a much more sheltered life than most.

Sorry can't agree with you at all. The taxi driver deserved all he got IMO.

[Track Rod]

That halo on my head must have done some damage, it seems perverting the course of justice is an insignificant crime, it's just telling a lie. I stand corrected.

[Track Rod]

That halo on my head must have done some damage, it seems perverting the course of justice is an insignificant crime, it's just telling a lie. I stand corrected.