Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869

9 Regulations as to hackney and stage carriages.

The said Secretary of State may from time to time by order make regulations for all or any of the following purposes; that is to say,

(1) For regulating the number of persons to be carried in any hackney or stage carriage, and in what manner such number is to be shown on such carriage, and how such hackney carriages are to be furnished or fitted :

(2) For fixing the stands of hackney carriages, and the distances to which they may be compelled to take passengers, and the persons to attend at such stands :

(3) For fixing the rates or fares, as well for time as distance, to be paid for hackney carriages, and for securing the due publication of such fares; provided that it shall not be made compulsory on the driver of any hackney carriage to take passengers at a less fare than the fare payable at the time of the passing of this Act:

(4) For forming, in the case of hackney carriages, a table of distances, as evidence for the purpose of any fare to be charged by distance, by the preparation of a book, map, or plan, or any combination of a book, map, or plan :

(5) For securing the safe custody and re-delivery of any property accidentally left in hackney or stage carriages and fixing the charges to be paid in respect thereof, with power to cause such property to be sold or to be given to the finder in the event of its not being claimed within a certain time

Subject to the following restrictions :—

(1) In fixing the stands for hackney carriages within the city of London and the liberties thereof the consent of the Court of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen shall be required to any stand appointed by the Secretary of State:

(2) No hackney carriage shall be compelled to take any passenger a greater distance for any one drive than six miles:

(3) During such portion of time between sunset and sunrise as is from time to time prescribed, no driver shall ply for hire unless the hackney carriage under his charge be provided with a lamp properly trimmed and lighted, and fixed outside the carriage in such manner as is prescribed.

This clause shall not repeal section thirteen of the Act of the fifth and sixth years of the reign of Her present Majesty, chapter seventy-nine, so far as regards existing carriages or any which may be built within one year after the passing of this Act.