Callling RC - Taxi driver banned over ‘atrocious’ driving

[watty]

To paraphrase a TV, he shoulda gone to RC for driving lessons 

Dublin taxi driver denied PSV licence over ‘atrocious’ driving

A taxi driver who drove a taxi without insurance after being informed of a penalty-point disqualification has failed in his bid to obtain a new public service vehicle (PSV) licence.  Joseph Bankole’s standard of driving was “atrocious”, a superintendent said, adding he had real concerns for the safety of passengers.  The 59-year-old was refused a PSV licence, and he appealed against that decision to the court. Judge John Brennan said he had a certain sympathy for Mr Bankole but he dismissed the appeal, saying driving while disqualified was a serious matter, particularly when an individual knew they were disqualified.  Swords District Court heard Mr Bankole could renew his application to the Carriage Office at any time.

In October 2020, Mr Bankole, of Cedar Place, Ridgewood in Swords, was disqualified for two years after he admitted uninsured driving on the Naul Road on January 21, 2020. He had been driving for two weeks without insurance.  He has since served that disqualification.

Mr Bankole then applied to the Carriage Office for a new PSV licence, but this was refused in January 2024.  In evidence, Garda Dominic Noonan said Mr Bankole admitted when he was stopped that he was serving a penalty point disqualification.  Gda Noonan said Mr Bankole accrued 14 penalty points between March 2018 and October 2019 for speeding and having a bald tyre.

In his evidence, Mr Bankole said he worked as a taxi driver for eight years.  He was not working on the day he was stopped by Gda Noonan, and had been going to a meeting at his church.  He had a letter of accommodation from his pastor, he said.  Solicitor Bernard Stobie, for Mr Bankole, said his client had served the ban and refusing a PSV licence was “unduly harsh”.

Superintendent Stephen McAuley said his primary concern was public safety. Mr Bankole drove while disqualified, and even before that his driving was “atrocious”.

I guess it could happen to any of us    Get 14 penalty points in 18 months, get done for a bald tyre, then get done for no insurance while banned and then have the local Superintendent say in court your driving is 'atrocious'.  Poor b*stard made the wrong choices in life.  If he used his taxi for drug smuggling instead of church, he'd be back on the road again.

[John m]

We have a duty of care for REWARD .He has his driving licence back so he can drive to his new job .Imagine his insurance quote 15K + if he can get one .

[watty]

He was not working on the day he was stopped by Gda Noonan, and had been going to a meeting at his church.  He had a letter of accommodation from his pastor, he said

Maybe the pastor will insure him?

[markmiwurdz]

Should have said he had trials for The Nigerian Eagles which might have helped.

[Shallow Hal]

The cunt drove harder than he prayed!!

[silverbullet]

To paraphrase a TV, he shoulda gone to RC for driving lessons 

Dublin taxi driver denied PSV licence over ‘atrocious’ driving

A taxi driver who drove a taxi without insurance after being informed of a penalty-point disqualification has failed in his bid to obtain a new public service vehicle (PSV) licence.  Joseph Bankole’s standard of driving was “atrocious”, a superintendent said, adding he had real concerns for the safety of passengers.  The 59-year-old was refused a PSV licence, and he appealed against that decision to the court. Judge John Brennan said he had a certain sympathy for Mr Bankole but he dismissed the appeal, saying driving while disqualified was a serious matter, particularly when an individual knew they were disqualified.  Swords District Court heard Mr Bankole could renew his application to the Carriage Office at any time.

In October 2020, Mr Bankole, of Cedar Place, Ridgewood in Swords, was disqualified for two years after he admitted uninsured driving on the Naul Road on January 21, 2020. He had been driving for two weeks without insurance.  He has since served that disqualification.

Mr Bankole then applied to the Carriage Office for a new PSV licence, but this was refused in January 2024.  In evidence, Garda Dominic Noonan said Mr Bankole admitted when he was stopped that he was serving a penalty point disqualification.  Gda Noonan said Mr Bankole accrued 14 penalty points between March 2018 and October 2019 for speeding and having a bald tyre.

In his evidence, Mr Bankole said he worked as a taxi driver for eight years.  He was not working on the day he was stopped by Gda Noonan, and had been going to a meeting at his church.  He had a letter of accommodation from his pastor, he said.  Solicitor Bernard Stobie, for Mr Bankole, said his client had served the ban and refusing a PSV licence was “unduly harsh”.

Superintendent Stephen McAuley said his primary concern was public safety. Mr Bankole drove while disqualified, and even before that his driving was “atrocious”.

I guess it could happen to any of us    Get 14 penalty points in 18 months, get done for a bald tyre, then get done for no insurance while banned and then have the local Superintendent say in court your driving is 'atrocious'.  Poor b*stard made the wrong choices in life.  If he used his taxi for drug smuggling instead of church, he'd be back on the road again.

It wasn't a Goodyear!

[Octavia1]

Far rite ?

[silverbullet]

Far rite ?

Nearside rear.

[Rat Catcher]

I thought atrocious driving was a prerequisite for taxi drivers. I guess you'd have to be very unlucky or black to get stopped often enough to accumulate enough points to get disqualified or get detected driving while disqualified. I know a couple of taximen who were banned for drink driving back in the good old days yet never had to physically surrender their licences.... and they were still able to "get them back" after a few months! Maybe An Garda Siochana will stop renewing PSV licences for all drivers who prove their incompetence by accumulating penalty points... or even all non-white Irish by accident of birth drivers.