Duties of owners of licensed taxis
14.—(1) This section applies to the owner of any licensed taxi.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), the owner shall present the taxi for inspection and testing by or on behalf of the Department within such period and at such place as the Department may by notice reasonably require.
(3) The taxi shall not be required to be presented under subsection (2) on more than three separate occasions during any one period of 12 months.
(4) The owner shall (without prejudice to Article 175 of the 1981 Order) report any accident to the taxi materially affecting—
(a)the safety, performance or appearance of the taxi; o
(b)the comfort or convenience of persons carried in the taxi,
to the Department as soon as reasonably practicable and in any case within 72 hours of the accident occurring.
(5) If the ownership of the taxi changes, the person who was previously the owner shall within 14 days of the change—
(a)give notice to the Department of that fact and the name and address of the new owner; and
(b)return to the Department the taxi licence and the plate, disc, sign or distinguishing mark which was issued for the taxi under section 15.
(6) A person who, without reasonable excuse, contravenes any provision of this section is guilty of an offence.