Loo-break cab driver blasts Darlington Borough Council for wait

8:00am Wednesday 30th May 2012 in Darlington Borough Council News Photograph of the Author By Vicki Henderson, Darlington reporter

Mark Brown Mark Brown

A CAB driver who left his taxi unattended on a rank to use the toilet has accused a council of causing him unnecessary stress after a five-month wait to decide how to punish him.

Mark Brown faced Darlington Borough Council’s licensing committee yesterday to determine whether he could keep his hackney cab licence, weeks after a court appearance when he was fined £25 in a private prosecution brought by the authority.

Mr Brown, 37, was reported by traffic wardens after they saw his empty cab on the East Row rank, in Darlington, while he used the toilet in a nearby betting shop, on January 14.

He admitted leaving the cab, but said he had no choice because of a stomach condition which can cause him to need the toilet at short notice.

Speaking after the licensing hearing, Mr Brown said the five-month wait had caused a disproportionate effect on his life.

He was given a written warning but allowed to keep his licence.

He said: “The council expects you to leave the rank and park to go the loo, but you can wait for a fare for two hours and to leave the rank and then rejoin at the back would kill us.

“I’ve dwelled on this hearing every day for months for fear they would take my licence off me. It’s caused huge stress and had an effect on my family life.

“I’m not saying that drivers should be able to park on the rank and go shopping but we can’t even go the toilet. We’re grown men, we should be able to go to the loo when we want. We just want flexibilty and common sense from the council.”

Cab driver Mark Fulleylove, 48, also appeared before the committee yesterday for leaving his cab unattended to use the toilet and was given a written warning.

He said: “When the rank is full, where are we going to go? We just want the council to think a bit more and work with us.”

A spokeswoman for Darlington Borough Council said: “By leaving taxis unattended on working ranks, drivers prevent other taxi drivers from being able to use that rank properly.

“Taxi ranks are not car parks for taxi drivers – if taxi drivers do need to leave their taxi when they are working they should find somewhere appropriate to park.”

Comments (14)

8:40am Wed 30 May 12

glyn says...

He s milking his 5 minutes of fame.
He did wrong.
He was found guilty.
Get on with your life.
Stop being pathetic.
Boycott this taxi
He s milking his 5 minutes of fame. He did wrong. He was found guilty. Get on with your life. Stop being pathetic. Boycott this taxi glyn

8:59am Wed 30 May 12

GeordieB says...

The fact that Darlington Borough Council insist on wasting tax payers money on this beggars belief.

There was no victim to this 'crime' whatsoever.

It's about revenue generation and maintaining control through bullying tactics.
The fact that Darlington Borough Council insist on wasting tax payers money on this beggars belief. There was no victim to this 'crime' whatsoever. It's about revenue generation and maintaining control through bullying tactics. GeordieB

9:51am Wed 30 May 12

sammy d says...

how come it took 5 months to debate this so called crime do the council get paid for every meeting they have to discuss their punishment? next election vote the lot out total waste of money
how come it took 5 months to debate this so called crime do the council get paid for every meeting they have to discuss their punishment? next election vote the lot out total waste of money sammy d

10:43am Wed 30 May 12

Ian James says...

I hope this poor bloke, is off all next week. So, he can sit all week at home, on his throne in peace n quiet, and watch the queens diamond jubilee celebrations on his tele, while his sat on his throne, havin a big uncle george, for queen n country!! lol. And, after a nice week of sitting on his throne n gettin his moneys worth, the problems sorted with his bowels n he can ava a nice shitzo n live hackney ever after!! lol.
I hope this poor bloke, is off all next week. So, he can sit all week at home, on his throne in peace n quiet, and watch the queens diamond jubilee celebrations on his tele, while his sat on his throne, havin a big uncle george, for queen n country!! lol. And, after a nice week of sitting on his throne n gettin his moneys worth, the problems sorted with his bowels n he can ava a nice shitzo n live hackney ever after!! lol. Ian James

10:45am Wed 30 May 12

Ian James says...

Well aye!! lol.
Well aye!! lol. Ian James

12:32pm Wed 30 May 12

rank marshall says...

Has he been Sacked from Taxi call who he drove for ?
Has he been Sacked from Taxi call who he drove for ? rank marshall

12:37pm Wed 30 May 12

rank marshall says...

For Clicks information taxi drivers dont speed do indicate and drive safely they are tought these things in turkey polland kazakstan and not to mention lithuania and most know how to read or not be able to put meter on xmas day tarrif when you are Drunk !
For Clicks information taxi drivers dont speed do indicate and drive safely they are tought these things in turkey polland kazakstan and not to mention lithuania and most know how to read or not be able to put meter on xmas day tarrif when you are Drunk ! rank marshall

12:47pm Wed 30 May 12

rank marshall says...

One of his friends said " He is a victim of the system and its about time the council let taxi drivers have restrooms and cooking facilitys like the town hall staff do are they not his employer ? In a roundabout way ? ". Another close friend on the rank who asked not to be named ( peter mudd ) said he is a decent bloke who just eats to much so needs the loo a lot ! He has the support of all of us on Priestgate rank and i asked for a comment but as none of them spoke english i was unable to report there views here
One of his friends said " He is a victim of the system and its about time the council let taxi drivers have restrooms and cooking facilitys like the town hall staff do are they not his employer ? In a roundabout way ? ". Another close friend on the rank who asked not to be named ( peter mudd ) said he is a decent bloke who just eats to much so needs the loo a lot ! He has the support of all of us on Priestgate rank and i asked for a comment but as none of them spoke english i was unable to report there views here rank marshall

5:58pm Wed 30 May 12

antagonist1 says...

well i think it took the council 5 months to come to a decision because they had nothing to go on !!!
well i think it took the council 5 months to come to a decision because they had nothing to go on !!! antagonist1

6:00pm Wed 30 May 12

gary123 says...

If its a three car rank, and he was behind them, then he's not on the rank, therefore, its just a parking issue.
Not like its the first time the council **** about wasting my money.
If its a three car rank, and he was behind them, then he's not on the rank, therefore, its just a parking issue. Not like its the first time the council **** about wasting my money. gary123

6:47pm Wed 30 May 12

Jolly Roger says...

Well if an ordinary person parked where you should not the council would come down on you and you get a parking fine because of the RULES.

And th same thing happened here as if a Taxi is parked in a Rank the driver cannot leave it full stop.

So he broke the Rules like anyone else so has to pay for it.

End off - no ifs or buts.
Well if an ordinary person parked where you should not the council would come down on you and you get a parking fine because of the RULES. And th same thing happened here as if a Taxi is parked in a Rank the driver cannot leave it full stop. So he broke the Rules like anyone else so has to pay for it. End off - no ifs or buts. Jolly Roger

11:00pm Wed 30 May 12

PJ Chingford says...

This bloke really, really needs to get over himself, the usual ceaseless whining of someone caught breaking the rules. Pro drivers lets see; in the last few years I have been nearly knocked over twice off my bike; once by the market, without warning, a driver pulled a three point turn without indicating and when I commented to him (without swearing) I got a mouthfull of abuse (he had an elderly lady in the back who looked quite shocked at his behavior) and the last straw, and elderly lady crossing the road by HSBC (before pedestrianisation) with a walking frame and the taxi driver stopped in the road, blasted his horn and stuck his head out of the window to tell her to f***in move! If you are interested in the quality of drivers look at the minutes of taxi licensing comittee at the number of drivers who rack up multiple points, pro drivers, I wouldn't use a Darlo taxi if you paid me!
This bloke really, really needs to get over himself, the usual ceaseless whining of someone caught breaking the rules. Pro drivers lets see; in the last few years I have been nearly knocked over twice off my bike; once by the market, without warning, a driver pulled a three point turn without indicating and when I commented to him (without swearing) I got a mouthfull of abuse (he had an elderly lady in the back who looked quite shocked at his behavior) and the last straw, and elderly lady crossing the road by HSBC (before pedestrianisation) with a walking frame and the taxi driver stopped in the road, blasted his horn and stuck his head out of the window to tell her to f***in move! If you are interested in the quality of drivers look at the minutes of taxi licensing comittee at the number of drivers who rack up multiple points, pro drivers, I wouldn't use a Darlo taxi if you paid me! PJ Chingford

11:38pm Wed 30 May 12

Homshaw1 says...

Look in loading bays and taxi ranks on a morning and you will see council vehicles fresh from the depot with councils employees eating sandwiches or "take aways" and reading newspapers

Does this not prevent people from using the parking bays and taxi ranks?

Double standards!
Look in loading bays and taxi ranks on a morning and you will see council vehicles fresh from the depot with councils employees eating sandwiches or "take aways" and reading newspapers Does this not prevent people from using the parking bays and taxi ranks? Double standards! Homshaw1

2:41pm Thu 31 May 12

Homshaw1 says...

PJ Chingford wrote:
This bloke really, really needs to get over himself, the usual ceaseless whining of someone caught breaking the rules. Pro drivers lets see; in the last few years I have been nearly knocked over twice off my bike; once by the market, without warning, a driver pulled a three point turn without indicating and when I commented to him (without swearing) I got a mouthfull of abuse (he had an elderly lady in the back who looked quite shocked at his behavior) and the last straw, and elderly lady crossing the road by HSBC (before pedestrianisation) with a walking frame and the taxi driver stopped in the road, blasted his horn and stuck his head out of the window to tell her to f***in move! If you are interested in the quality of drivers look at the minutes of taxi licensing comittee at the number of drivers who rack up multiple points, pro drivers, I wouldn't use a Darlo taxi if you paid me!
Some taxi drivers are morons who do no favours to their coworkers and that is what the council should be sorting out - not people popping to the toilet

Pro drivers? - no many should not be allowed on the road
[quote][p][bold]PJ Chingford[/bold] wrote: This bloke really, really needs to get over himself, the usual ceaseless whining of someone caught breaking the rules. Pro drivers lets see; in the last few years I have been nearly knocked over twice off my bike; once by the market, without warning, a driver pulled a three point turn without indicating and when I commented to him (without swearing) I got a mouthfull of abuse (he had an elderly lady in the back who looked quite shocked at his behavior) and the last straw, and elderly lady crossing the road by HSBC (before pedestrianisation) with a walking frame and the taxi driver stopped in the road, blasted his horn and stuck his head out of the window to tell her to f***in move! If you are interested in the quality of drivers look at the minutes of taxi licensing comittee at the number of drivers who rack up multiple points, pro drivers, I wouldn't use a Darlo taxi if you paid me![/p][/quote]Some taxi drivers are morons who do no favours to their coworkers and that is what the council should be sorting out - not people popping to the toilet Pro drivers? - no many should not be allowed on the road Homshaw1

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