Taxi Driver Loses Licence After Aggressive Incident in St Austell

A taxi driver in St Austell has had their licence revoked after displaying aggressive behavior towards a parking enforcement officer. The incident occurred outside a primary school, where the driver was fined for parking on zig-zag lines.

Similar cases of taxi drivers losing their licences due to misconduct have been reported, including a taxi driver’s licence revoked after a dangerous pursuit of a cyclist.

The driver, instead of accepting the penalty, confronted the officer, using abusive language in front of young children. The entire altercation was captured on the officer’s body-worn camera. Following an investigation by Cornwall Council’s licensing compliance team, the case was presented to the licensing committee, which decided to revoke the driver’s licence.

Council’s Decision and Statement

The licensing committee determined that the driver’s conduct was unacceptable and did not meet the professional standards expected of licensed taxi drivers. They ruled that the driver was not a fit and proper person to hold a taxi licence.

Councillor Carol Mould, portfolio holder for neighbourhoods at Cornwall Council, stated:

"We will not tolerate any kind of abuse towards our staff, or members of the public. This individual’s behaviour was totally unacceptable. We expect taxi drivers to abide by the Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards and those who fail to do so risk losing their licence."

Parking Enforcement and Public Safety

Parking enforcement officers play a critical role in ensuring that parking regulations are followed. Cornwall Council has highlighted concerns over aggressive behavior towards officers, especially around schools.

Councillor Martyn Alvey, responsible for enforcement at Cornwall Council, noted:

"Unfortunately, there are often incidents around schools where drivers get impatient and sometimes aggressive. This driver’s behaviour was totally unacceptable. We ask that all drivers are patient and considerate, particularly around schools, and make sure they abide by the traffic regulations that are in place."