Operator Granted Licence at Public Inquiry Despite Former Drink Drive Conviction of Transport Manager

An Operator and Transport Manager were called to Public Inquiry having applied for a new operators’ licence. The Traffic Commissioner had concerns about the Transport Manager’s former drink drive conviction, and whether it had been disclosed at the time. There was also evidence that the Transport Manager had been involved in a number of past licences, including one which had been called to a Public Inquiry.

The advocate was able to put many of these concerns to rest in written submissions provided to the Traffic Commissioner prior to the hearing. He was also able to produce evidence from the Transport Manager that a letter had been sent to the Office of the Traffic Commissioner notifying  them of his drink drive offence. Evidence was also produced to show that effective compliance systems would be operated under the new licence.

After hearing from the Operator and the Transport Manager, the Traffic Commissioner was prepared to grant the licence. The Transport Manager’s good repute remained intact.