Transport for London Act 2008

London cabs: general provisions

9 Power to designate directional taxi ranks

(1) TfL may by London cab order designate any standing for hackney carriages appointed under section 4 of the London Hackney Carriages Act 1850 (c. 7) to be a directional taxi rank—

(a) at all times; or

(b) for such times of the day, days or other periods as may be specified in the order.

(2) Where TfL designates a directional taxi rank, TfL shall cause a sign to be displayed at the rank clearly indicating—

(a) the direction or directions in which the drivers of vehicles plying for hire at that rank are required to travel if so requested by any person wishing to hire the vehicle in question; and

(b) the times, days or other periods for which the rank is designated to be a directional taxi rank.

(3) Notwithstanding section 35 of the London Hackney Carriage Act 1831 (c. 22) and section 17 of the London Hackney Carriage Act 1853 (c. 33), the driver of a hackney carriage plying for hire at a directional taxi rank may refuse to drive his vehicle in a direction which is not the specified direction or, where more than one direction is specified, which is not one of the specified directions.

(4) Where it appears to TfL to be desirable or expedient TfL may suspend the operation of a designation under this section for such period or periods as TfL thinks fit.

(5) In this section—

• “directional taxi rank” means a standing for hackney carriages whose drivers are plying for hire only for journeys in a specified direction or in one of several specified directions;

• “London cab order” means an order made under section 9 of the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869 (c. 115); and

• “specified direction”, in relation to a directional taxi rank, means the direction (or any of the directions) specified in the designation relating to that rank.

10 Power to designate rest ranks

(1) TfL may by London cab order designate any standing (or part of a standing) for hackney carriages appointed under section 4 of the London Hackney Carriages Act 1850 (c. 7) to be a rest rank—

(a) at all times; or

(b) for such times of the day, days or other periods as may be specified in the order.

(2) TfL may by London cab order prescribe the maximum length of time during which a hackney carriage may stand at a rest rank; and different maximum lengths of time may be prescribed—

(a) for different rest ranks; or

(b) for different times of the day, days or other periods.

(3) Where TfL designates a rest rank, TfL shall cause a sign to be displayed at the rank clearly indicating that the rank (or the relevant part of it) is a rest rank.

(4) Notwithstanding section 35 of the London Hackney Carriage Act 1831 (c. 22) and section 17 of the London Hackney Carriage Act 1853 (c. 33), the driver of a hackney carriage which is standing at a rest rank shall not be deemed to be plying for hire and, accordingly, may not be compelled to drive his vehicle to any place by any person wishing to hire it.

(5) Where it appears to TfL to be desirable or expedient TfL may suspend the operation of a designation under this section for such period or periods as TfL thinks fit.

(6) In this section “London cab order” means an order made under section 9 of the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869 (c. 115).

11 Taxi drivers' badges

(1) In section 8 of the London Hackney Carriages Act 1843 (c. 86) (metal ticket to be issued to licensed driver of hackney carriage)—

(a) for “metal ticket” substitute “badge”, and

(b) omit “or engraved”.

(2) In sections 10, 17, 18, 19, 25 and 27, for “ticket”, in each case where that word occurs, substitute “badge”.

12 Public register of cab licences not to include holders' addresses

(1) Section 16 of the London Hackney Carriages Act 1843 shall be amended as follows.

(2) Re-number the existing provision subsection (1).

(3) In that subsection, after “may be founded; and” insert “, subject to subsection (2),”.

(4) After that subsection, insert—

“(2) Transport for London may disclose the address of a licensed person to any person only if it appears to Transport for London that the person has a sufficient reason for requiring that information.”.

13 Cost of replacement badges

In section 19 of the London Hackney Carriages Act 1843 (cost of replacement badge to be such sum, not exceeding 15p, as TfL shall from time to time appoint) for “, not exceeding 15p, as Transport for London shall from time to time appoint” substitute “as Transport for London shall consider reasonable”.

14 Time limit for making complaints

In section 38 of the London Hackney Carriages Act 1843 (complaints to be made within 7 days) and in the heading to that section for “seven” substitute “twenty eight”.

15 Fares for journeys ending outside London

(1) After subsection (3) of section 1 of the London Cab and Stage Carriage Act 1907 (c. 55) (fares for taximeter cabs) insert—

“(4) The fare for a cab journey starting within London but ending outside London shall be—

(a) such fare as may be agreed between the driver and the passenger—

(i) before the commencement of the journey, or

(ii) where, after the commencement of the journey, the driver and the passenger agree to change the destination of the journey, at the time when the destination of the journey is changed, or

(b) if no fare is so agreed, the fare shown on the taximeter.

(5) A driver of a cab who demands or takes more than the proper fare for a journey undertaken as mentioned in subsection (4) of this section is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.”.

(2) Nothing in this section shall affect the operation of section 35 of the London Hackney Carriage Act 1831 (c. 22), sections 7 and 17 of the London Hackney Carriage Act 1853 (c. 33) or any other enactment which makes provision as regards the obligation of drivers of hackney carriages to drive their vehicles on certain journeys if so requested by persons wishing to hire them.

16 Unfit cabs

(1) Section 2 of the London Hackney Carriage Act 1853 (service of notice on proprietor of unfit cab and suspension of licence) shall be amended as follows.

(2) Re-number the existing provision subsection (1).

(3) In that subsection, for the words from “which notice shall be personally served” to “horses whilst in a condition unfit for public use” substitute “which notice—

(a) shall be personally served on the proprietor or delivered at his usual place of residence, and

(b) may be personally served on the driver of the carriage;

and if, after notice has been served on the proprietor or driver as mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b), the carriage is used or let to hire as a hackney carriage, or the horse is, or the horses are, used or let, whilst in a condition unfit for public use,”.

(4) After that subsection, insert—

“(2) A proprietor of a hackney carriage whose licence is suspended under subsection (1) shall not be guilty of an offence under section 7 of the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869 (c. 115) in respect of the carriage unless he has been given written notice in accordance with subsection (1).”.