A private hire car driver from Eastleigh, near Southampton, almost lost his taxi license because of his playful private number plate.
Private Hire
60-year-old, Martin Willis, is lovingly known by friends and family as ‘Willy’ so when planning his birthday last year, wife Linda bought him the private registration plate ‘MW11 LLY’ that he now proudly displays on his private hire taxi.
“It makes people smile and laugh.”
Mr Willis knew his customers would see the funny side of his cheeky plate and enjoyed the conversations that occurred because of it. He said: “As soon as I put the plate on the car people would say to me they love it. It makes people smile and laugh.”
Letter of Complaint
Unfortunately, to Mr Willis’ disappointment not everyone saw the funny side as officers from Eastleigh Borough Council chapped on his door to announce that a letter of complaint had been received.
A spokesperson for Eastleigh Borough Council said: “Last month Eastleigh Borough Council’s Enforcement Office was contacted by a member of the public who had noticed Mr Willis’ registration plate at Southampton Airport and complained that it was inappropriate.”
“Mr Willis took our advice on board and rectified the issue promptly.”
Unaware that he was doing something illegal, Mr Willis had originally made a slight change to the spacing of the plate so that it read “M W11LLY”.
The Eastleigh Borough Council spokesperson said: “Our Enforcement Officer visited Mr Willis on 12 November and pointed out that altering the spacing on a registration plate was an offence under the Road Traffic Act and could affect a future application to renew his licence.
“Mr Willis took our advice on board and rectified the issue promptly.”
Mr Willis, who works for Checkercars, said: “Someone from the council knocked on my door and said there had been a complaint about my number plate and that someone found it offensive.
“I’ve changed the spacing but I’ve not had to take it off because it’s legal. I’ve never had any complaints in the eight years I’ve been a taxi driver. I presume this trivial complaint is going to go on my record.”
Hopefully there will be no more complaints filed against Mr Willis and he can keep everyone smiling.