Hackney carriage licence conditions

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• Standard conditions attached to the issue of a hackney carriage licence
  • Identification plates
  • Type of vehicle
  • Condition of vehicle
  • Fire extinguisher/first aid kit
  • Advertisements
  • Council notes
  • Passengers
  • Taximeters
  • Fare tables
  • Two many radios
  • Convictions
  • Cheques
  • Guide/assistance dogs
  • Change of address

Standard conditions attached to the issue of a hackney carriage licence

(These notes are for guidance only and are not a complete summary of the Act)

Identification plates

1. The external identification plates where issued by Woking Borough Council shall at all times be fixed to the rear of the taxi by the proprietor to the place provided by the manufacturer or in accordance with the reasonable instructions of an authorised officer of the Council in such a manner as to be easily removable by such officer or constable.

2. The internal identification plate where issued by the Council shall at all times be kept and maintained inside the vehicle in accordance with the reasonable instructions of an authorised officer of the Council.

3. The proprietor of the taxi shall ensure the identification plates are maintained and kept in such condition that the information contained on the plate is clearly visible to public view at all times.

Type of vehicle

4. The proprietor shall ensure that the taxi shall only be of the type approved for public hire use by Woking Borough Council.

5. The proprietor of the taxi shall ensure that the exterior colour of the taxi is one of the manufacturer’s colours, the use of which has been approved by the Council.

Condition of vehicle

6. The proprietor shall ensure that the taxi shall be maintained in a sound mechanical and structural condition at all times and be capable of satisfying the Council’s mechanical and structural inspection at any time during the continuance of the vehicle licence in respect of the vehicle.

7. The interior and exterior of the taxi shall be kept in a clean condition and maintained in a safe condition by the proprietor to the satisfaction of the Council.

8. The proprietor shall not allow the mechanical and structural specification of the taxi to be varied without the written consent of the Council.

9. The proprietor shall ensure there is a spare wheel and tools for changing.

Fire extinguisher/first aid kit

10. The proprietor of the taxi shall provide and maintain to the satisfaction of the authorised officer of the Council an efficient fire extinguisher or any other form of fire extinguisher required in writing from time to time by an authorised officer of the Council which shall be securely fixed to the vehicle and within easy reach of the driver at all times. The extinguisher shall be manufactured to British Standards and shall show the B.S number. A first aid kit of a type approved by the Council shall be carried in the vehicle at all times.

Advertisements

11. The proprietor shall not cause or permit any sign, notice, name, telephone number or advertisement to be displayed in, on or from the taxi except the word “taxi” when it forms part of the design feature of the vehicle, unless authorised as below.

a) Commercial advertisements may be displayed on the exterior of the front doors, on the base of the tip-up seats and above the glass passenger partition. Such advertisements must first be approved by the Council before display.

b) Details of the operating firm of the taxi may be displayed on the vehicle but only in accordance with the conditions below:-

i) a front facing sign may be affixed, but only to the front windscreen and in a top nearside position;

ii) a rear facing sign may be affixed, but only to the rear screen and in a bottom central position;

iii) an internal sign may be affixed, but only to the nearside internal partition glass, in top nearside position, facing to the rear;

iv) no sign shall exceed 20 inches wide by 3 inches high;

v) a sign shall not display anything other than the name of a firm, radio circuit or association and/or telephone number;

vi) no sign shall refer to any firm, radio circuit, association or telephone number which is outside the area, and

vii) no such sign shall be illuminated.

Council notes

12. The proprietor shall cause to be affixed and maintained in a conspicuous position in accordance with the directions of the Council any sign or notices required from time to time by the Council.

Passengers

13. The proprietor shall not permit the hackney carriage vehicle to be used to carry a greater number of passengers than the number prescribed in the licence. For this purpose two children under the age of ten shall be counted as one person insofar as the rear seating only is concerned.

Taximeters

14. The proprietor shall cause the taxi to be fitted with a taximeter approved by the Council and for it to be located within the vehicle in accordance with the reasonable instructions of an authorised officer of the Council.

15. The proprietor shall cause the taximeter to be maintained in a sound mechanical condition at all times.

16. The proprietor shall not use or permit to be used a taximeter that the Council has not sealed to prevent unauthorised adjustment of the taximeter.

17. The proprietor shall ensure the “for hire” sign or other illuminated sign is extinguished when the fare commences and the taximeter brought into operation.

18. The proprietor undertakes to ensure that the taximeter will not be replaced without prior permission of an authorised officer of the Council.

Fare tables

19. The proprietor shall ensure that a copy of the current fare table supplied by the Council from time to time is exhibited inside the taxi at all times in the location provided by the manufacturers of the vehicle or in accordance with the reasonable instructions of an authorised officer of the Council.

20. The proprietor shall ensure that the fare table is not concealed from view or rendered illegible while the vehicle is for hire.

Two many radios

21. The proprietor shall ensure that any radio equipment fitted to his taxi is at all times kept in a safe and sound condition and maintained in proper working order.

Convictions

22. The proprietor of a taxi shall within seven days of conviction disclose to the Council in writing details of any convictions imposed on him during the currency of his licence.

Cheques

23. A licence in respect of which the licence fee has been paid by cheque shall not be effective until the cheque has been cleared.

Guide/assistance dogs

24. The proprietor of a taxi shall ensure that any driver carries any passenger accompanied by a Guide/Assistance dog.

Change of address

25. The proprietor shall notify the Council in writing of any change in his/her address within 7 days of such a change taking place.