A FATHER of one who ran an unauthorised Uber-style taxi service to ferry passengers from Dublin Airport to Newbridge, Co. Kildare, has been given a chance to avoid a court conviction.
Oarlei Tavanti, 52, of Slaney Court, Naas, Co. Kildare, was prosecuted by the National Transport Authority (NTA) after a sting operation.
why was he given a chance?
He's Brazilian, and wouldn't do to diss the Brazilians in this current climate:
A FATHER of one who ran an unauthorised Uber-style taxi service to ferry passengers from Dublin Airport to Newbridge, Co. Kildare, has been given a chance to avoid a court conviction.
Oarlei Tavanti, 52, of Slaney Court, Naas, Co. Kildare, was prosecuted by the National Transport Authority (NTA) after a sting operation.
He pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court on Monday to offences under the Taxi Regulation Act for not having small public service licences for himself or his car.
He listened to the proceedings with the assistance of a Portuguese interpreter, but did not address the court.
Judge Anthony Halpin heard that a Facebook advert had offered “transfers from Dublin Airport to Newbridge”.
NTA compliance officer Anthony Carey contacted the advertiser who collected him from the airport on April 23 last.
They agreed to a €90 fare, and the official got into the car, which departed, but it was pulled over by gardaí just outside the airport.
The court heard Tavanti told Mr Carey, “Tell them you are my friend”.
However, the judge noted that the driver cooperated, admitted he had no taxi licence, and claimed he did not think he needed one.
The court heard he told gardaí that in his country, “you would not need a licence, like Uber”. He was referring to a transportation company with an app that, in other countries, allows passengers to hail and hire a lift from private drivers. But in Ireland, it is restricted to licensed taxi drivers.
Defence counsel Stephanie Lawless said her client had been out of work, suffered from a severe illness and was under financial strain.
Pleading for leniency, she asked the judge to note he had no prior convictions and was eager to deal with the case.
The barrister said Tavanti did not realise he needed a taxi licence.
Judge Halpin told him to pay €200 toward prosecution costs and €100 to charity within a year, and the court would apply the Probation of Offenders Act, sparing him a recorded conviction.
Failure to comply would result in the court convicting him, fining him €500 and ordering him to pay €300 in costs.
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