London Hackney Carriage Act 1831

XXI Commissioners may change Plates. Where a Plate has been wilfully obliterated, a new Licence shall be taken out.

And be it enacted, That whenever, in the Opinion of the Commissioners of Stamps or their authorized Officer, it shall be expedient to recall any Plate for the Purpose of changing the same for any other Plate bearing the same or a different Number, the said Commissioners or such Officer shall give Notice to the Person or to any One of the Persons to whom the Licence relating to such Plate shall have been granted, that the said Commissioners or such Officer do or doth by such Notice recall such Plate; and the Person to whom such Licence shall have been granted shall within One Week after such Notice deliver up such Plate, and produce the Licence relating to the same, to the said Commissioners or to their authorized Officer, and also apply to the said Commissioners or such Officer for a new Plate; and thereupon the said Commissioners or such Officer shall deliver to the Person so applying for the same a new Plate in lieu of the Plate so as aforesaid recalled ; and if such new Plate shall bear a Number different from the Number mentioned in such Licence, the said Commissioners or such Officer shall indorse upon such Licence a Memorandum of the Surrender of the Plate therein mentioned, and of the granting of such new Plate in lieu thereof; and from thenceforth such Licence shall be deemed to relate to such new Plate in the same Manner as if the Number, thereof had been originally inserted in the Body of such Licence: Provided always, that if it shall appear to the said Commissioners or to their authorized Officer that the Number upon any such Plate so delivered up as aforesaid hath been wilfully obliterated, or hath been rendered illegible by any other Means than by the regular and proper Use and Wear thereof, it shall be lawful for the said Commissioners or such Officer to refuse to deliver any Plate in lieu of the Plate so surrendered and delivered up as aforesaid, unless the Person applying for the same shall also surrender and deliver up the Licence relating to such surrendered Plate, and shall take out and pay for a new Licence with and relating to the Plate to be delivered in lieu thereof.