Hackney Carriage Information

Byelaws

In addition to the licence conditions, the Hackney Carriage byelaws must be complied with.

LICENCE VEHICLE SPECIFICATION

1. A vehicle will be suitable in type, size and design for use as a hackney carriage if it meets the following specifications: either:-

a) an FX9 (London cab type) vehicle or;

b) a saloon or estate car with at least four doors and reasonable accommodation for luggage and capable of seating not less than 4 nor more than 8 full sized adult passengers or;

c) a minibus type vehicle capable of seating not more than 8 full sized adult passengers; which must in any case meet the following criteria:

i) be a right-hand drive vehicle;

ii) have adequate lighting for the interior of the vehicle and an adequate heating system for the driver and passengers, with means of control by the driver;

iii) carry a spare wheel and tool kit to change wheels;

iv) be of such a design to enable any person in the carriage to communicate with the driver;

v) be fitted with a roof or covering which can be kept water-tight; vi) contain windows and a means of opening and closing not less than one window on each side;

vii) contain seats which must be properly cushioned or covered;

viii) be provided with a proper carpet, mat or other suitable covering for the floor;

ix) contain fittings and furniture kept in a clean condition, safe and well maintained and in every way fit for public service;

x) be fitted in such a way to enable luggage to be secured if the vehicle is so constructed to carry luggage;

xi) contain at least two doors for the use of persons conveyed in the vehicle and a separate means of ingress and egress for the driver;

xii) be equipped with ashtrays for use by the passengers.

MAINTENANCE OF VEHICLE

2. The vehicle and all its fittings and equipment shall at all times when the vehicle is in use or available for hire be kept in an efficient, safe, tidy and clean condition and all relevant statutory requirements (including in particular those contained in Motor Vehicles [Construction and Use] Regulations) shall be fully complied with.

ALTERATION OF VEHICLE

3. No material alteration or change in the specification, design, condition or appearance of the vehicle shall be made without the approval of the Council at any time while the licence is in force.

SIGNS, NOTICES, FITTINGS ETC

4. a)

i) "The vehicle must be equipped with a roof sign, of a standard size - width 500mm, height 120mm - such sign to be illuminated and bearing the word "TAXI" in black letters on yellow background and facing forward and on the red background facing backwards.

ii) Save as aforesaid the vehicle must not be equipped with roof fittings, including advertisements except a wireless aerial which must be fitted in such a manner as to satisfy the Council;

iii) A sign stating 'no smoking' with minimum diameter of 70mm must be displayed in a visible position inside the vehicle.

b) No signs, notices, advertisements, plates, marks, numbers, letters, figures, symbols, emblems or devices whatsoever shall be displayed on, in or from the vehicle except as may be required by any statutory provision (including by-laws) or required or permitted by these conditions, provided, however, that this condition shall not apply to any indication on a taximeter fitted to the vehicle or to a sign which:

i) is displayed in, on or from the vehicle whilst it is stationary;

ii) contains no words or numbers other than the name and address of an operator of the vehicle or the name under which he carries on his business and its address;

iii) is displayed in pursuance of a prior arrangement made for the carriage of a passenger or passengers named in the sign.

RADIO MICROPHONE

5. Any radio microphone installed in the vehicle shall be fitted in such a position that its use by the driver would not impair his control of the vehicle when it is in motion.

TAXIMETER

6. The vehicle shall be provided with a taximeter, which must be so constructed, attached and maintained as to comply with the following requirements:

a) When the machinery of the taximeter is in action there shall be recorded on the face of the taximeter in clearly legible figures a fare not exceeding the rate or fare which the proprietor or driver is entitled to demand and take for the hire of the carriage by distance in pursuance of the tariff fixed by the Council.

b) The taximeter shall be so placed that all figures on the face thereof are at all times plainly visible to any person being conveyed in the carriage and for that purpose the figures shall be capable of being suitably illuminated during any period of hiring.

STATEMENT OF FARES

7. The vehicle shall contain a statement of fares fixed by the Council to be fitted and maintained in such a position so as to be clearly visible at all times to the hirer.

IDENTIFICATION PLATES

8. a) A Licence plate provided by the Council, identifying the vehicle as a hackney carriage and required to be exhibited on the vehicle pursuant to Section 47(2) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, shall be securely fixed on a bracket in a conspicuous position, either immediately above or below the bumper and in such a manner as to be easily removable by an authorised officer of the Council or the police. The Licence plate must remain on the vehicle AT ALL TIMES (including when the vehicle is not in use) and should not be removed except by an authorised officer of the Council or the police..

b) In addition an internal plate provided by the Council, indicating the number of passengers allowed to be carried in the vehicle and the licence number of the vehicle shall be displayed in the front windscreen so as not to obscure the driver's vision.

c) The proprietor of a hackney carriage shall ensure that the identification plates are maintained and kept in such a condition that the information contained on the identification plates is clearly visible to public view at all times.

RETURN OF PLATES

9. On renewal of licence or in the case of licensing a new vehicle, the old licence plates (internal and external) must be returned to the Council.

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

10. There shall be provided and maintained in the vehicle at all times, when it is in use or available for hire, a fire extinguisher authorised by the Council and a suitable first aid kit containing appropriate first aid dressings and appliances, such equipment to be carried in such a position in the vehicle as to be readily visible and available for immediate use in an emergency.

VEHICLE EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS

11. The vehicle shall be submitted for inspection, at the Council's authorised vehicle tester, immediately prior to the initial application. Vehicles over 1 year old require an MOT.

Vehicle Inspections:

Up to 3 years old - 1 inspection per year

Over 3 years old but not exceeding 7 years old - 2 inspections per year

Over 7 years old - 3 inspections per year

The vehicle shall be submitted for inspection at any other time at the authority's discretion and when submitted for inspection, the vehicle shall be in complete and thoroughly good condition and the engine, chassis, body, wheels, fittings, furniture and all parts must be in good repair and order, all steering parts and braking linkages must be thoroughly cleaned.

PERIOD OF LICENCE

12. Hackney carriage vehicle licences shall be granted for a period dependant on the age of the vehicle.

ACCIDENTS

13. The proprietor of a hackney carriage shall report to the Council as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any case within 72 hours of the occurrence thereof, any accident to such hackney carriage causing damage materially affecting the safety, performance or appearance of the hackney carriage or the comfort or convenience of persons carried therein. Compliance with this condition does not exempt the proprietor from his statutory liability to report all accidents to the police.

Following such an accident the vehicle must be submitted to the Council's authorised vehicle tester and a certificate obtained before the vehicle returns to work.

PLACE OF KEEPING HACKNEY CARRIAGES

14. The proprietor of a hackney carriage licensed by the Council shall, within such period as the Council may by notice reasonably require, state in writing the address of every place where such hackney carriage is kept when not in use, and shall, if the Council so require, afford to them such facilities as may be reasonably necessary to enable them to cause such hackney carriage to be inspected or tested.

INSURANCE

15. The proprietor of a hackney carriage licensed by the Council shall ensure at all times that the vehicle (and driver) is insured sufficiently to protect passengers in the event of claims for death or bodily injury.

A copy of the current certificate of motor insurance must be kept in the vehicle for inspection at all times.

The proprietor of any hackney carriage licensed by the Council shall, at the request of any authorised officer of the Council, produce for inspection the vehicle licence for such hackney carriage and the certificate of the policy of insurance in respect of such hackney carriage. The Council will not accept anything less than a 30 day cover note.

EXCISE LICENCE

16. The proprietor of any hackney carriage shall ensure that a current excise licence is displayed in the vehicle at all times.

CONVICTION

17. The proprietor shall, within seven days, disclose to the Council, in writing, details of any convictions imposed on him (or, if the proprietor is a company or partnership, on any of the directors or partners) during the period of the licence.

TRANSFER OF VEHICLE

18. The proprietor of a Hackney Carriage shall report to the Council, within seven days of the occurance thereof, any transfer or change of ownership of the vehicle.

ILLEGAL/IMMORAL PURPOSES

19. The proprietor of a Hackney Carriage shall not permit the vehicle to be used for any illegal or immoral purpose.

PLEASE NOTE: Any reference to or any summary of any statutory provision in the above conditions is neither authoritative nor exhaustive.