Drivers' licences
22Drivers' licences
(1)A person—
(a)shall not drive a public service vehicle on a road unless he is licensed for the purpose under this section: and
(b)shall not employ a person who is not so licensed for the purpose to drive a public service vehicle on a road.
Notwithstanding section 1(1) of this Act, in this section and in sections 23 to 26 of this Act " public service vehicle " shall be construed as meaning a stage; express or contract carriage.
(2)The authority having power to grant under this section a licence to a person to drive a public service vehicle shall be—
(a)where the person seeking the grant of the licence is, at the time of the application therefor, resident in a traffic area other than the Metropolitan Traffic Area, the traffic commissioners for the traffic area in which he then resides;
(b)where the person seeking the grant of the licence is, at that time, resident in the Metropolitan Traffic Area, the commissioner of police of the metropolis.
(3)A person shall be disqualified for obtaining a licence to drive a public service vehicle unless he fulfils such conditions as may be prescribed.
(4)A licence to drive a public service vehicle may be limited to such type or types of vehicles as may be specified in the licence.
(5)A licence to drive a public service vehicle may at any time be suspended or revoked by the authority by whom it was granted upon the ground that, by reason of his conduct or physical disability, the holder is not a fit person to hold such a licence; and a licence suspended under this subsection shall during the time of suspension be of no effect.
(6)A licence to drive a public service vehicle shall, unless previously revoked, continue in force for five years from the date on which it is expressed to take effect.
(7)Without prejudice to section 23(3) of this Act if, on the date on which an application is made for a licence to drive a public service vehicle, the applicant is the holder of such a licence, the existing licence shall, notwithstanding anything in subsection (6) above, continue in force until the application is disposed of.
(8)A licence granted under this section to a person resident in any traffic area shall be valid in every other traffic area.
(9)Subject to section 68(1) and (3) of this Act, a person who contravenes subsection (1)(a) or (b) above shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £500.
23Appeals to courts of summary jurisdiction in connection with drivers' licences
(1)A person who, being the holder of or an applicant for a licence to drive a public service vehicle, feels aggrieved by the refusal or failure of the traffic commissioners or the commissioner of police of the metropolis to grant, or by the suspension or revocation of, such a licence, or by any limitation imposed thereon, may by notice in writing to the commissioners or commissioner, as the case may be, require them or him to reconsider the matter and shall on the reconsideration be entitled to be heard either personally or by his representative.
(2)A person who is so aggrieved or who is dissatisfied with the decision of the commissioners or commissioner on the reconsideration of the matter may appeal—
(a)if he resides in England or Wales, to a magistrates' court acting for the petty sessions area in which he resides,
(b)if he resides in Scotland, to the sheriff within whose jurisdiction he resides,
and on any such appeal the court or sheriff may make such order as it or he thinks fit and any order so made shall be binding on the commissioners or commissioner.
(3)Where the applicant for a licence to drive a public service vehicle, who is at the date of his application the holder of a licence, appeals under this section on the ground of refusal or failure to grant the licence, the existing licence shall, notwithstanding anything in section 22(6) of this Act, continue in force until the appeal has been disposed of.