Private hire driver caught speeding twice keeps his licence

A private hire driver caught speeding after he had already been warned for driving too fast has been allowed to keep his licence.

Tahir Awan was reprimanded by Glasgow’s licensing committee when his private hire car driver’s licence was renewed in May 2019 – but he was clocked speeding again in November 2020.

Police Scotland objected to his latest renewal bid, arguing he is no longer a “fit and proper” person to hold a licence. But councillors agreed to award a licence for a restricted period of one year, and issued a “severe” warning over his future conduct.

The committee heard how Mr Awan had only declared one of his two convictions on his application form. He said it was an “error” while filling in an online form.

Mr Awan was fined £200 and given points on his licence in March 2019 after he was caught driving at 40mph in a 30mph area of Rutherglen in 2018.

In December 2021, the private hire driver was fined another £200 and given more penalty points as police had seen him driving at 43mph in a 30mph zone on Kilmarnock Road, Glasgow.

Cllr Alex Wilson, who chairs the licensing committee, said: “We granted you a licence with a warning because you had a previous road traffic conviction.

“You’re back before us for a renewal of your licence with a road traffic conviction. What lessons did you learn when we gave you a warning the first time? None really, you still went back out and got done for speeding again.

“When we grant licences in this city, we want to make sure that passengers are getting from A to B safely. We don’t want our drivers ignoring the speed limits, which you seem to have done.”

Mr Awan, who currently has three points on his driving licence, said he believed he had been called before the committee over “the non-declaration of points”. “I now really understand it’s my history of speeding that’s causing the problem,” he said.

Bailie Jim Kavanagh said: “This licensing committee expects certain standards from the people who drive private hire cars throughout the city. Do you think you have achieved that?”

Mr Awan admitted he hadn’t. “I apologise for the situation I have got myself in,” he said, adding it wouldn’t happen in future.

Asked if he had learned his lesson, he said: “I think I have this time, definitely.”

Cllr Wilson said: “If you rely heavily on this job, we gave you a warning the first time. That should have been it for you. You’ve ignored that, or let your standards slip.”

Mr Awan said: “I will make sure this does not happen again. I’ve been here twice for the same thing, I don’t want to make this a habit.”

In response, Cllr Wilson said: “Certainly not a third time because it will be third time unlucky, Mr Awan.”