According to a Somerset Council newsletter, a newly licensed hackney carriage/private hire driver has had their licence revoked after being arrested for drink driving just six days after collecting their first badge.
The council explained that a Common Law Police Disclosure flagged the incident, which involved the driver being arrested for driving over the legal alcohol limit and refusing to provide a specimen. The offence occurred shortly after the individual was licensed.
The driver was later convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol and received a 14-month driving disqualification. As a result, their hackney carriage/private hire driver’s licence for the Taunton Deane zone was reviewed.
At a hearing held on 19 November, the council’s Regulatory Sub-Committee determined that the individual was not a “fit and proper person” to hold a licence. The driver’s hackney carriage/private hire licence was subsequently revoked.
DM Commentary
This case is a stark reminder that licensing authorities take drink driving extremely seriously, especially when it involves professional drivers trusted with public safety.
For taxi and private hire drivers, the “fit and proper” test doesn’t stop once you collect your badge. Councils actively receive police disclosures, and even incidents occurring off-duty or shortly after licensing can have immediate consequences.
With enforcement, data sharing, and police reporting becoming tighter in 2026 and beyond, drivers should be under no illusion — serious motoring offences are very difficult to hide, and councils will act swiftly where public safety is at risk.
The message is clear: one mistake can cost you your licence and your livelihood.
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