Section 52: Immediate suspension and revocation of drivers' licences
192.This section affects taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV - minicab) drivers in England and Wales (outside London, and not in Plymouth).
193.Taxi and PHV drivers must be licensed by the relevant local authority in order to carry out taxi or PHV work. Section 61 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 gives the licensing authority the power to suspend or revoke a taxi or PHV driver’s licence, but, by virtue of section 77 of that Act, the driver may continue to drive a taxi or PHV (as the case may be) until the time period for appealing to the courts against the authority’s decision has expired, or, if an appeal is lodged, until the appeal has been determined.
194.This section amends sections 61 and 77 of the 1976 Act to provide licensing authorities with a power to suspend or revoke a taxi or PHV driver's licence with immediate effect in cases where it appears to them that the interests of public safety require such a course of action. If a driver’s licence is suspended or revoked with immediate effect, the driver may no longer drive a taxi or PHV from the time when he is given notice of the suspension or revocation.