Drunken row cab driver Martin Lambert stripped of licence
A TAXI driver has been stripped of his licence after he was convicted of being drunk and disorderly on a night out with friends.
Self-employed private-hire driver Martin Lambert, 38, accepts he was in the wrong for drunkenly rowing with another cabbie.
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OUT OF A JOB: Self-employed private-hire driver Martin Lambert has been stripped of his licence. Picture: Kate Woolhouse
But he says Hull City Council's licensing department have been "heavy-handed" for depriving him of his livelihood.
Mr Lambert said: "If I had been convicted of drink- driving or anything involving violence or dishonesty I would fully understand the committee's decision to revoke my licence.
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"But I was not behind a wheel. I was on foot in Hull city centre on a night out with friends."
Mr Lambert, whose partner is six months pregnant, admits he stumbled in front of a taxi, due to being drunk.
He said: "I then gobbed off at the taxi driver, which I should not have done. The taxi stopped and we had a bit of an argument – all verbal, nothing physical.
"The next thing I knew, two police officers who had seen it turned up.
"I swore at one of the officers, which again I should not have done, and I was arrested for being drunk and disorderly."
Mr Lambert, of west Hull, was taken to Queens Garden Police Station, city centre, where he spent ten hours sobering-up.
He was charged the following morning with being drunk and disorderly, an offence under section 91 of the Criminal Justice Act 1967.
Mr Lambert was summoned to appear before city magistrates, who fined him £85. He was also given a 12-month conditional discharge.
"I owned up to everything I did and I thought that would be the end of the matter," said Mr Lambert.
"But a few days later I received a letter from the licensing committee telling me the police had informed them of my conviction and asked me to attend an interview."
Mr Lambert attended the hearing at the Guildhall and received a second letter informing him of the committee's decision.
In the letter, a Hull City Council manager said: "I refer to the interview of September 10.
"The licensing committee has decided to revoke your private hire licence on the grounds that there is reasonable cause owing to the nature of your conviction for being drunk and disorderly."
Mr Lambert was given 21 days to appeal the decision, but missed the October 1 deadline.
He said: "I now have no means to earn money with a child on the way.
"To me, it seems ridiculous that someone can lose his licence for a conviction that had nothing to do with the job they do."
Councillor Nadine Fudge, chairman of the licensing committee, said: "A private hire driver is a notifiable occupation and the police inform the licensing authority if a currently licensed driver has committed any offences and convictions.
"We are unable to talk about the details of the renewal of an individual's licence but we can confirm that after discussing this case the committee felt it was necessary to revoke Mr Lambert's licence in the interest of public safety.
"So far as the authority is aware no appeal has been made to Hull Magistrates' Court against the decision of the committee within the statutory period."
Comments
by dontwo
Monday, October 08 2012, 7:28PM
“Save your anger and bile for the taxi drivers who rape their passengers or break their necks, not the ones drunk and gobby whilst off duty.”
by Strangley
Monday, October 08 2012, 2:04PM
“Let's face it, Plod don't drag dunks off to the station just for a bit of verbal. They don't want urine & puke all over their vans & cells. This guy must have made a real determined effort to get banged up. Ask yourself, would you want to be driven by a man with such poor skill sets in self control & basic judgement?”
by SantiagoSam
Monday, October 08 2012, 1:51PM
“Sad that the dimwitted lout is breeding.”
by ripnelson
Monday, October 08 2012, 12:14PM
“I find it really hard to understand,The majority of people who have been guilty now a days in the news Put as a comment in their defence."I HAVE A PREGNANT PARTNER"or "PREGNANT WIFE"..I think if they are going to be responsible parents they ought to grow up first and stay out of mischief. Also how long have their partners been pregnant? Not this one case in particular but in general,Can just hear the words now "Lets try for a baby now whilst I am on bail,it might make my sentence more lighter!!"”
by bewildered1
Monday, October 08 2012, 12:14PM
“He can make another application at any time, and if they refuse him again he can then appeal that decision at the magistrates. I suggest he requests details of suspensions of other public and private hire drivers and the convictions they were suspended for under the freedom of information act. He will have to frame the question carefully as names and personal details are not disclosable. He can then see if his treatment by the licencing committee is consistent and fair and in line with other suspensions. If it is not that will benefit his argument for his licence to be reissued
I also suggest he gets some treatment for his alcohol abuse and bad behaviour for his own good and to present to the committee as evidence of his good faith if and when he reapplies. He needs to start acting in his own interest.
I have some experience of the licensing committee and have found them fair and reasonable, but they have access to his full record and will have taken that into account when suspending him, they are unable to publicly disclose his previous history because they are a public body covered by the data protection act, CRB legislation and, perhaps, the rehabilitation of offenders act.”
by ek_its_chily
Monday, October 08 2012, 11:37AM
“Shouldn't swear at the Police. Shouldn't have missed the appeal deadline.
Who is to blame for this?
Answers on a postcard”
by kempton
Monday, October 08 2012, 10:26AM
“by Zola1984Friday, October 05 2012, 12:52PM
"Binge drinkers like him cost the taxpayer millions of pounds a year in NHS, police and court costs, deserves what he gets"
Cost millions but pay billions in taxes. The NHS costs are far less than the money raised through taxes on alcohol , in fact the taxes raised on alcohol are enough to pay for the whole of police costs forthe whole of the country with billions left over. Your argument is stupid.
How about the NHS treating people who haven't contributed, as drinkers who pay NI on top of their taxes have? Or people in hospital because of an illegal activity, an accident whilst driving without a licence, or insurance, or an MOT? Or driving a stolen car or injured whilst committing a burglary?”
by unified
Monday, October 08 2012, 10:01AM
“wikileaks.
Name the drivers and then ask for them to be suspended then everyones a winner. Unless of course you dont have a shred of proof.”
by albaz
Saturday, October 06 2012, 12:20PM
“Many years ago a Taxi, Bus or Lorry driver was a different type of road user to what we have now. A bus or taxi now is often driven by someone who thinks rules do not apply to them. This is evident by the way a taxi jumping lights,speeding or queue jumping is a common sight wherever the driver has come from. Having said all that I think taking away this mans license was harsh. How stupid this individual then fails to appeal the decision, surely any sympathy ends there.”
by Thedark1
Saturday, October 06 2012, 10:36AM
“another taxi driver not to be trusted hull is full of bogus false criminal taxi drivers avoid a taxi driver at all times in hull”