Taxi driver in fine mess
A CAIRNS taxi driver has been hit with more than $900 in fines after allegedly being caught on another motorist’s dash cam driving dangerously in the Cairns CBD.
The taxi driver, a 46-yearold Gordonvale man, was seen swerving in front of the other motorist as they travelled through traffic on Abbott St last Tuesday, December 12.
In the footage he can be seen clipping the corner of the four-wheel drive belonging to motorist Tony Vaughan, who sent it into police and Cairns Taxis.
A police spokeswoman confirmed yesterday police had reviewed the footage and issued the taxi driver with traffic infringement notices for failing to give way when changing lanes and failing to fulfil duties as a motorist involved in a crash.
The infringement notices carry a monetary penalty of $378 and $525 respectively.
Mr Vaughan, a professional driving trainer, told the Cairns Post last week he briefly spoke with the driver when he pulled alongside him at traffic lights afterwards, but he had refused to pull over and exchange details.
“His attitude was ‘tough, that’s the way it is’,” he said.
No one was injured in the incident and Mr Vaughan’s vehicle received only minor damage.
Cairns Taxis fleet manager Chris Balsom said last week he had been shocked by the footage and the operator was working with police.
He did not confirm whether the driver had lost his job but said “corrective action” was being undertaken
“It’s definitely nothing that we condone in any way, shape or form,” he said.
“They are professional drivers and they have to drive in a professional manner.
“The driver is being dealt with quite severely.”