Consequences for a taxi driver charged with drug offences could be tragic, Attorney John Furniss told Magistrate Grace Donalds last week.
He was speaking on behalf of Eric Edington Dixon, 56, who pleaded guilty to possession and consumption of ganja. The defendant had no previous convictions, Mr. Furniss emphasised. He asked that no convictions be recorded in this instance.
After hearing the facts and further mitigation, the magistrate gave Dixon a conditional discharge and ordered him to pay costs of $560. No conviction was recorded.
Crown Counsel Kirsti-Ann Gunn said officers were down at the harbour in George Town with drug dogs on 7 September.
Dixon was sitting at his taxi in the taxi stand area. One of the dogs gave an indication to its handler and the officer went to speak to Dixon, who began backing away.
Asked what he had in his pocket, he said nothing. But then he was observed removing something and placing it in his mouth. Arrested and interviewed, Dixon admitted it was a ganja spliff and he had swallowed it. A urine sample tested positive, but at a very low level, Mrs. Gunn indicated.
Mr. Furniss referred to the defendant’s co-operation, good character and his long career as a taxi driver.
If the court could deal with the matter without recording convictions, the Taxi Licensing Board might take action that would suspend his privileges for a time. But if Dixon had a conviction, he would lose his taxi licence and not be eligible to obtain another one for five years, the attorney indicated.
The conditional discharge is for 12 months. Mrs. Gunn later explained that, if the defendant were brought back to court on another charge within 12 months, these offences would be brought to the magistrate’s attention.
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