PART II

Licensing and Regulation—Particular Activities

Licensing and regulation of taxis and private hire cars

Offences
21
1
If any person—
a
operates, or permits the operation of, a taxi within an area in respect of which its operation requires to be but is not licensed or the driver requires to be but is not licensed, or
b
picks up passengers in, or permits passengers to be picked up by, a private hire car within an area in respect of which its operation requires to be but is not licensed or the driver requires to be but is not licensed,
that person shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £500.
2
Subsection (1) above does not apply to the operation of a taxi or private hire car within an area in respect of which its operation or its driver is not licensed if the request for its hiring was received by its driver whilst—
a
in the area or in that part thereof in respect of which its operation and its driver are licensed ;
b
engaged on hire on a journey which began in that area or part or will end there ; or
c
returning to that area or part immediately following completion of a journey on hire.
3
Subsection (1)(b) above does not apply to the operation of a vehicle within an area in respect of which its operation or its driver is not licensed if there are in force—
i
in respect of the vehicle, a licence under section 37 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 (licensing of hackney carriages) or section 48 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 (licensing of private hire vehicles); and
ii
in respect of its driver, a licence under section 46 of the said Act of 1847 (licensing of hackney carriage drivers) or, as the case may be, section 51 of the said Act of 1976 (licensing of drivers of private hire vehicles).
4
If any person, being the holder of a taxi licence or private hire car licence in respect of a vehicle, permits another person who does not have a current taxi driver's licence or private hire car driver's licence, as the case may be, to operate the vehicle as a taxi or, as the case may be, a private hire car he shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £500.
5
If any person demands fares or other charges in respect of the hire of a taxi or for the hire of a private hire car which is fitted with a taximeter in excess of the scales established under sections 17 and 18 of this Act, he shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £500.
6
If any person without good cause breaks the seal on a taximeter or operates or drives a taxi or private hire car knowing that the seal on its meter has been broken, he shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £500 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 60 days or to both.
7
If any person, without reasonable excuse, causes or permits any vehicle other than a taxi to wait on any stance for taxis during any period for which that stance has been appointed by a licensing authority under section 19 of this Act, he shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £50.
8
Notice of the effect of subsection (7) above shall be indicated by such traffic signs as may be prescribed as authorised for the purpose by the Secretary of State in pursuance of his powers under section 54 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967.
1847 c. 89.
1976 c. 57.
1967 c. 76.