Please see below news flash from the DSA web site, always beware of any driving instructor who does not show thier green or pink licence, which should be on display on their windscreen. Some things to also look out for are driving instructors that do not display their driving school name on thier car, or thier business cards, who do not have a web site, and do not have any form of postal address.
Always ask to see your driving instructors DSA Approved instructor licence, whichloks like the picture below. If they cannot show you this, then they are not Dariving Standards Agency Approved Driving Instructor, and are most certainly breaking the law, as it is an offence to give driving instruction for money if you are not licenced to do so.
• Deekan Vig made up to £4, 000 by duping learners
• Suspicion was raised by driving test examiners in north London
• Driving Standards Agency issues stark warning to fraudsters
The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has delivered a stark warning to
bogus driving instructors who flout the law by illegally teaching
learner drivers.
Offender Deekan Vig, of Southgate, was today sentenced at Wood Green
Crown Court to six months’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months on
condition that he does 100 hours of unpaid community work. He was found
guilty of three charges of fraud by misrepresentation at an earlier
trial.
Vig, 40, made up to £4, 000 by conning three learner drivers into
believing he was an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI). It is illegal to
receive money or monies worth in exchange for driving tuition unless
you are a qualified, registered ADI.
Suspicions about him were raised by DSA examiners at driving test
centres across north London - including Barnet, Chingford and Winchmore
- who reported that the illegal instructor was presenting candidates
for test, and a successful investigation was launched.
DSA’s registrar of driving instructors, Charles Morton, said: “Our
message is clear: if you are not an ADI or a Trainee Licence holder and
teach for money or monies worth, you can expect to face ever-increasing
penalties.
“Illegal instructors are a danger to the public. They have not
been assessed by us to ensure they are able to provide driving
instruction to required standards.”
Mr Morton continued: “It is very simple to check that a driving
instructor is qualified. Ensure they display an in-date pink or green
badge in their windscreen during lessons and that the photo on the
badge matches the person providing the instruction.
“The pink badge indicates that they have trainee status and are
entitled to give paid instruction whilst acquiring practical
experience. The green badge indicates their name is on The Register of
Approved Driving Instructors, they are fully qualified to give paid
instruction and are subject to regular checks by DSA to ensure their
continued competence and suitability to give instruction.”
The head of the DSA Fraud and Integrity Team, Andy Rice, added: “We
investigate all reported cases of suspected illegal instruction and
work closely with the police and criminal justice agencies to identify
offenders and prosecute.”