Statutory Instruments

1986 No. 567

PUBLIC PASSENGER VEHICLES

The Local Services (Operation By Taxis) Regulations 1986

Made

20th March 1986

Laid before Parliament

26th March 1986

Coming into Operation

16th April 1986

Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Local Services (Operation by Taxis) Regulations 1986 and shall come into operation on 16th April 1986.

Interpretation

2.—(1) In these Regulations—

the 1847 Act” means the Town Police Clauses Act 1847;

the 1976 Act” means the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976;

the 1985 Act” means the Transport Act 1985;

local servicehas the meaning given by section 2 of the 1985 Act;

local taxi area” means the area in which a vehicle is licensed to ply for hire under section 37 of the 1847 Act;

special licence” means a restricted PSV operator's licence granted by virtue of section 12 of the 1985 Act;

licensed taxi” and “taxi codehave the meanings given by section 13(3) of the 1985 Act; and

taximeterhas the meaning given by section 80(1) of the 1976 Act.

(2) Any reference in these Regulations to the 1847 Act is a reference to that Act as it applies in relation to a vehicle as a part of the taxi code (and accordingly as it so applies as incorporated, extended or applied by or under any enactment).

Application

3.  These Regulations apply to a licensed taxi which is licensed under section 37 of the 1847 Act, at any time when that vehicle is being used to provide a local service under a special licence.

Prescribed Provisions

4.—(1) The provisions specified in the first column of the Table to the extent that they are part of the taxi code, subject to the exceptions and modifications specified in the second column thereof, are hereby prescribed as applying in relation to a vehicle to which these Regulations apply.

(2) Where any part of the taxi code is contained in provisions made by or under any local Act, then any such provisions which have substantially similar purpose and effect to those provisions prescribed by paragraph (1) of this regulation are hereby prescribed as applying in relation to a vehicle to which these Regulations apply.

(3) The provisions so prescribed shall apply—

(a)whether or not the use of the vehicle to provide a local service is within the local taxi area for that vehicle, and accordingly any limitation in those provisions to that area shall have no effect when the vehicle is being so used; and

(b)subject to the modification that any reference to a hackney carriage includes a reference to a vehicle to which these Regulations apply.

TABLE

Column 1Column 2
Provisions PrescribedModifications
The 1847 Act, section 37–65Section 52 is modified by the omission of the words from “or if the driver” to “or any less number”; and sections 53–59, 62 and 64 are excepted.
Public Health Act 1875, section 251None.
The 1976 Act, Part II

Sections 63, 65–67, 69, and 75 are excepted.

Section 64(1) is modified by the omission of the words “other than a hackney carriage”.

Any byelaws made under section 68 of the 1847 Act or conditions attached to a licence under section 47 of the 1976 Act with the purpose in either case of regulating—

a. the display of the licence number on the vehicle.

b. the number of persons that may be carried in the vehicle;

c. the wearing of a badge by the driver;

d. the safe custody and redelivery of any property accidentally left in the vehicle;

e. the reporting of accidents;

f. the tampering with any taximeter with which the vehicle is provided;

g. the civil and orderly behaviour of the driver and the precautions to be taken by him in regard to the safety of passengers; and

h. the equipment and fittings of the vehicle;

and any byelaws prescribing penalties for breach of the above-mentioned byelaws.

None.

5.  The holder of a special licence shall during such time as the vehicle is being used to provide a local service cause—

(a)to be displayed on the vehicle a notice clearly legible from the front which includes the word “BUS” in letters at least 60 millimetres high and indicates either the destination of the vehicle, or its route, or the nature of the service being provided;

(b)any notice which the vehicle is required to display to indicate that it is available for exclusive hire (including any such notice which bears any of the words “hire”, “taxi” or “cab”) not to be illuminated by any light forming part of the equipment of the vehicle;

(c)a fare table to be displayed in the vehicle in a manner clearly legible by passengers, and containing sufficient information for any passenger to ascertain the fare for his journey or the manner in which that fare is computed.

Nicholas Ridley

Secretary of State for Transport

20th March 1986

EXPLANATORY NOTE

By section 12 of the Transport Act 1985, provision is made for the use of taxis to provide local services. Regulation 4 prescribes the provisions of the “taxi code” (defined in section 13(3) of the 1985 Act) which apply in relation to a taxi licensed under section 37 of the Town Policies Clauses Act 1847 when being so used. Regulation 5 makes provision regarding the display of notices and of a fare table.

(1)

section 61 was amended by section 135(1) of the Transport Act 1985.