Edgartown selectmen revoked the license of a town taxi driver Monday after a report from police about a pattern of moving violations and accidents, both on and off duty.
At a hearing before the selectmen, Edgartown police chief David Rossi said Slaven Dejanovic was issued a taxi operator’s license in June to drive a van for a company based in Edgartown.
The chief said the day before the license was issued, Mr. Dejanovic was stopped and issued a marked lanes citation, after police observed him traveling at a high rate of speed and weaving in and out of traffic.
The chief said he warned Mr. Dejanovic at the time that his license would be suspended if he was cited for any other violations.
“There’s a half dozen stops after that,” Chief Rossi said. “He’s made his own history with it.”
The chief detailed four violations and two accidents that occurred between July and October, although he did not specify which ones happened while the taxi driver was on duty. Police suspended Mr. Dejanovic’s license on Oct. 7.
Under town bylaws, police can suspend a taxi license for a maximum of two weeks. The decision to permanently suspend an operator’s license rests with selectmen, after a hearing.
Mr. Dejanovic attended the brief hearing Monday with his attorney Rob Moriarty.
“He stands before you very contrite,” Mr. Moriarty told selectmen. “He wants to apologize. He realizes he was fully at fault.”
Mr. Moriarty proposed a license suspension of six months, followed by a two-year probationary period.
“I’m not in favor of that,” said chairman Margaret Serpa. “He’s lucky he didn’t injure somebody or kill somebody. He had his chance.”
Selectman Michael Donaroma agreed. “I’m a second chance guy, but in this case, our responsibility is to protect the public,” he said.
“You can’t drive like that,” said selectman Art Smadbeck. “There are some people that should not be driving on Martha’s Vineyard, particularly taxis.”
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