(1)Transport for London shall have the function of licensing persons to be drivers of hackney carriages.
(2)No hackney carriage shall ply for hire within the limits of this Act unless under the charge of a driver having a licence under this section from Transport for London.
(3)If any hackney carriage plies for hire in contravention of this section—
(a)the person driving the carriage, and
(b)the owner of the carriage, unless he proves that the driver acted without his privity or consent,
shall each be liable to a penalty not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
(4)Transport for London may send to the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis or the Commissioner of Police for the City of London—
(a)details of a person to whom Transport for London is considering granting a licence under this section, and
(b)a request for the Commissioner’s observations;
and the Commissioner shall respond to the request.
(5)A licence under this section may—
(a)be granted on such conditions,
(b)be in such form,
(c)be subject to revocation or suspension in such event, and
(d)generally be dealt with in such manner,
as may be prescribed.
(6)Subsection (5) of this section is subject to the following provisions of this section.
(7)[F2Subject to section 8A, a] licence under this section shall, if not revoked or suspended, be in force for three years.
(8)A fee of such amount (if any) as Transport for London may determine shall be paid to Transport for London—
(a)by any applicant for a licence under this section, on making the application for the licence;
(b)by any applicant for the taking or re-taking of any test or examination, or any part of a test or examination, with respect to any matter of fitness, on making the application for the taking or re-taking of the test, examination or part; and
(c)by any person granted a licence under this section, on the grant of the licence.
(9)In paragraph (b) of subsection (8) of this section “matter of fitness” means—
(a)any matter as respects which Transport for London must be satisfied before granting a licence under this section; or
(b)any matter such that, if Transport for London is not satisfied with respect to the matter, they may refuse to grant a licence under this section.
(10)Different amounts may be determined under subsection (8) of this section for different purposes or different cases.
(11)Transport for London may remit or refund the whole or part of a fee under subsection (8) of this section.]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 8 substituted (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 253, Sch. 20 Pt. I para. 5(5) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/801, art. 2(2)(c), Sch. Pt. 3
F2Words in s. 8(7) substituted (1.12.2016) by Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19), s. 94(1), Sch. 5 para. 3 (with Sch. 5 para. 54); S.I. 2016/1037, reg. 5(i)