Friday 9 December 2011

Taxi For Southampton Magistrates!

Shafic, of Hartington Road, Southampton, drove through a red light – an offence which would attract points on his licence, which was already endorsed with nine points for several speeding offences and which would have led to an automatic ban.
You’d think so, wouldn’t you?

But you’d have recognised without that old ‘get out of jail a speeding ban free!’ card:
Abdul Shafic, 36, told Southampton magistrates how he wouldn’t be able to afford the rent on his home he shared with his wife and four children if he lost his job. He also explained how he was largely responsible for taking his children to school due to his wife suffering from a vertigo condition that left her suffering migraines nearly every day and that she was reliant on him to take her to the doctors.
And all of that is down to Mr Shafic and no-one else. If his license is so vital, isn’t the onus on him to prevent any actions that might lead to its loss?

Why, no. This is the UK, 2011, and personal responsibility goes out the window along with common sense:
Magistrates accepted his case and instead of a ban fined him £83, put three points on his licence, and ordered him to pay £335 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
I confess to rather hoping that, next time he runs a red light, there’s a tipper truck coming the other way.

And he’s just picked up a Southampton magistrate….

10 comments:

Jim said...

Do the courts actually ask for any evidence when defendants claim all these things about medical issues, and third parties? Were medical records made available to prove the wife has vertigo and migraines, or did they just take his word for it?

Captain Haddock said...

The miracle really is that with such a patently bullshit sob-story as that one, he didn't end up waltzing away scot-free ..

With the award of a publicly funded £100.00 Christmas (despite being from part of the demographic whose names suggest they don't celebrate Christmas) "bonus" into the bargain ...

Tattyfalarr said...

It's cheaper to let him go than pay his rent, taxis for his children to school and a carer for the missus...since this is what they would be entitled to from the state.

Captain Haddock...what is this £100 Christmas bonus of which you speak ? Not heard of it ?

Bobo said...

"Abdul Shafic, 36, told Southampton magistrates how he wouldn’t be able to afford the rent on his home he shared with his wife and four children if he lost his job. "

".....Mr Shafic was congratulated on being the only Muslim taxi driver in the UK who is not simultaneously claiming every means-tested benefit available by grossly under-declaring his earned income...."

Captain Haddock said...

@ Tatty ..

I was being sarky ..

Given this heart-rending sob-story, I'm surprised that the Beak didn't give him "a damned stern talking to" & money out of the "poor box" instead of fining him & giving him 3 points .. ;)

Angry Exile said...

Having racked up 9 points I'm astonished his taxi licence wasn't already under suspension by the local council. Don't they have a taxi licensing department to look at these things or is it just a boost to the council coffers? Don't answer that.

One thing bother's me, though.

... and a £15 victim surcharge.

Er, what victim? If there was one this is an even bigger let off than it first appears, and if there wasn't why the surcharge? No need to answer that one either.

Johnnyrvf said...

Having driven tippers, proper articulated 44 tonne ones, I can honestly say a mobile crane of 500 ton lift capacity is far more unyeilding in an accident and as far as I am aware is 99.99% certain NOT to sustain damage........:-) .

English Viking said...

Surely the fact that he is a muslim, and therefore unaccustomed to the effects of points on his license, has absolutely nothing to do with it.

Julia, you mentioned a couple of days ago, but if this nonsense continues, heads will roll.

Literally.

JuliaM said...

"Do the courts actually ask for any evidence when defendants claim all these things..."

You'd hope so, wouldn't you?

"It's cheaper to let him go than pay his rent, taxis for his children to school and a carer for the missus...since this is what they would be entitled to from the state."

Sadly true...

"...Mr Shafic was congratulated on being the only Muslim taxi driver in the UK who is not simultaneously claiming every means-tested benefit available by grossly under-declaring his earned income..."

Heh! Indeed!

"No need to answer that one either."

You won't be surprised to find that was a Labour brainwave.

jacklymartin said...

It is cheaper to let him go than pay his rent, taxis for his children to school and a caretaker for the lady.

wandsworth cabs