London Hackney Carriage Act 1831

LX Penalty for using Waggons, &c. upon which the Names and Places of Abode are not painted, 5l.

And be it enacted, That if any Person shall drive or use, or cause to be driven or used, in or upon any public Street or Road within the Distance of Five Miles from the said General Post Office, any Waggon, Wain, Cart, Car, Dray, or other such Carriage upon which there shall not be duly painted in such legible and conspicuous Characters as aforesaid, and in the Manner directed by this Act, the true Christian Name and Surname and Place of Abode of the Owner or (if there be more than One) of the principal Owner of such Waggon, Wain, Cart, Car, Dray, or other such Carriage, every Person so offending shall forfeit Five Pounds; and it shall be lawful for any Person to take and seize such Waggon, Wain, Cart, Car, Dray, or other such Carriage, and any Horse drawing the same, and to lodge the same for safe Custody at some public Green Yard, or some Livery Stables or other Place of Safety, and them to detain and keep until some One of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace shall hear and determine such Offence, and until the Penalty which such Offender shall be liable and adjudged to pay for such Offence, together with the Costs of the Proceedings for the Recovery thereof, and the Expences of taking and keeping such Waggon, Wain, Cart, Car, Dray, or other Carriage, and any Horse drawing the same, shall be fully paid and discharged ; and if, on the Conviction of any such Offender, the said Penalty, Costs, and Expences shall not be forthwith paid, such Waggon, Wain, Cart, Car, Dray, or other such Carriage, and the Horse, so seized and taken as aforesaid, or either of them, shall be sold under an Order for that Purpose, under the Hand of such Justice, directed to the Constable or other Peace Officer of the Parish or Place where any such Offence shall be committed ; and the Surplus (if any) of the Money arising from such Sale, after deducting thereout the Amount of such Penalty, Costs, and Expences as aforesaid, together also with the Costs and Expences of such Sale, shall be rendered to the Owner of the Waggon, Wain, Cart, Car, Dray, or other Carriage or Horse which shall have been so seized and sold as aforesaid.