(1)The operator of a private hire vehicle commits an offence by failing or refusing to accept a booking for the vehicle—
(a)if the booking is requested by or on behalf of a disabled person or a person who wishes to be accompanied by a disabled person, and
(b)the reason for the failure or refusal is that the disabled person will be accompanied by an assistance dog.
(2)The operator commits an offence by making an additional charge for carrying an assistance dog which is accompanying a disabled person.
(3)The driver of a private hire vehicle commits an offence by failing or refusing to carry out a booking accepted by the operator—
(a)if the booking is made by or on behalf of a disabled person or a person who wishes to be accompanied by a disabled person, and
(b)the reason for the failure or refusal is that the disabled person is accompanied by an assistance dog.
(4)A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
(5)In this section—
“driver” means a person who holds a licence under—
section 13 of the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998 (“the 1998 Act”),
section 51 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 (“the 1976 Act”), or
an equivalent provision of a local enactment;
“licensing authority”, in relation to any area in England and Wales, means the authority responsible for licensing private hire vehicles in that area;
“operator” means a person who holds a licence under—
section 3 of the 1998 Act,
section 55 of the 1976 Act, or
an equivalent provision of a local enactment;
“private hire vehicle” means a vehicle licensed under—
section 6 of the 1998 Act,
section 48 of the 1976 Act, or
an equivalent provision of a local enactment.