Taxi firm taken off the road

A minibus and taxi firm has been stripped of its operators’licence by Scotland’s deputy traffic commissioner.

Cumnock and Auchinleck- based firm A1 Lux have had their licence revoked following an investigation by the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) which identified“major failings”and“illegal practices”.

Norrie Donis has been stripped of his operators’licence, while three of his drivers have had their PSV (Public Service Vehicle) licences revoked too. The reason given by Scotland’s deputy traffic commissioner were due to the ‘dangerous nature of the failings.’ The offences include: Tachograph units not being calibrated since 2011 and 2018,120 breaches of vehicles being driven without a tachograph card, instances of drivers’tachograph cards being removed from vehicles during the course of a journey/booking, and Norrie Donis carrying out 32 private hires without being the holder of a valid driver’s Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).The hearing heard how driving without a tachograph conceals evidence of driving time, necessary breaks, and rest periods and poses a risk to public safety.

Anthony Seculer, deputy traffic commissioner, Scottish Traffic Area, said:“I find as a fact that each of the drivers for the partnership drove on numerous occasions knowingly without tachograph records. In doing so they demonstrated a disregard for the legal requirements of the Licensing System and for the safety of their passengers and other road users . The fact that Mr Donis was one of the offending drivers sends the wrong message to the employed drivers and gives me no confidence in his ability or commitment to raise standards to an acceptable level.”

Two of the firm’s drivers were suspended from having a PSV drivers licence for nine months each and the third was suspended for 12 months. East Ayrshire Council has taken the firm off its list of approved contractors.