Taxi Policy - Appendix K - Hackney carriage vehicle licence conditions

General

The vehicle licence holder shall, within 7 days, notify the Authority, in writing, of any change of address.

The vehicle licence holder shall ensure that whilst a hackney carriage is licensed by Preston City Council the vehicle is not to be licensed by another local authority.

Signage

The vehicle licence holder shall ensure that plates, provided by the Authority, are securely affixed to the front and rear exterior of the vehicle in such a position that all the information on the plates are visible from outside the vehicle. They must not in any way obscure the vehicle registration plates or lights on the vehicle.

The identification plates shall be fixed to the vehicle using platform kits supplied by the Authority in such a manner as to be easily removed by an authorised officer or a police constable. The platform kit shall be fixed by bolts or screws or by other similar means.

The vehicle licence holder shall ensure that before driving a licensed hackney carriage or renting a vehicle to a licensed hackney carriage driver a display holder, provided by the Authority, be located on the interior partition in a manner that it can be seen by passengers in the rear of the vehicle. The display holder shall hold a copy of the vehicle plate and licensed driver badge. The licensed driver must be made aware of the requirement to display his hackney carriage driver badge in the display holder.

The vehicle licence holder shall ensure that before driving a licensed hackney carriage or renting a vehicle to a licensed hackney carriage driver the passenger information notice, issued by the Authority, is displayed in the vehicle in such a position that it can be seen by all passengers. If required multiple notices can be displayed.

The vehicle licence holder shall ensure that before driving a licensed hackney carriage or renting a vehicle to a licensed hackney carriage driver "no smoking" signs must be displayed in a manner that they can be seen by passengers inside and outside of the vehicle.

The current table of fares fixed by the Authority shall be displayed inside the vehicle and is not concealed from view or rendered illegible.

The vehicle licence holder shall ensure that a roof sign of the approved type shall be always illuminated when (and only when) the vehicle is available for hire.

The vehicle licence holder shall ensure that the hackney carriage displays the nationally recognised wheelchair accessible sign.

Meters

The taximeter shall be calendar controlled and its fittings shall be fixed to the vehicle with seals or other appliances, so as not to be practicable for any person to tamper with them by breaking, damaging, or permanently displacing the seals or other appliances.

The taximeter shall be positioned so that all letters and figures on its face shall be at all times illuminated and plainly visible to any passenger.

The taximeter when standing at a rank or plying for hire shall be kept locked in a position in which no fare is recorded on its face.

When the taximeter is operating there shall be recorded on the face of the meter in clearly legible figures a fare not exceeding the maximum fare that shall be charged for a journey.

If the taximeter has been altered for whatever reason, the proprietor of the vehicle shall forthwith arrange for resetting and resealing with the approved meter agent.

The vehicle taximeter shall be brought into operation at the commencement of all hires and the fare demanded by the driver shall not be greater than that shown on the meter and fixed by this Authority. In the event of a hire ending outside the city boundary there may be charged for the journey such fare or rate of fare, if any, as was agreed before the hiring was effected. If no such agreement was made at the start of the journey, then the fare to be charged should be no greater than that that would have been shown on the taximeter.

Receipt book

The vehicle licence holder shall ensure that a carbonated receipt book is always available in the vehicle. A receipt will be given on request and each receipt shall show as a minimum the following particulars:

Date of journey
Badge number of drivers
Amount paid

Luggage

The vehicle licence holder shall ensure the boot/luggage compartment is available for passenger luggage and shall be kept clean and any covering free from major cuts, tears or other damage or staining.

Where luggage is stored other than in a boot it shall be properly secured.

Condition of the Vehicle

The vehicle licence holder shall ensure that the hackney carriage is maintained in good order and should be capable of passing the Authority's vehicle compliance test at any stage during the licence period.

The vehicle licence holder shall ensure that the hackney carriage is inspected every week and a record of such shall be made on the Weekly Vehicle Maintenance Schedule provided by the Authority. The schedule shall be retained for 3 months from the date of the last entry and shall be always kept in the licensed vehicle and made available to an authorised officer on request.

The vehicle licence holder shall ensure no alteration or change in the specification, design, condition, or appearance of the vehicle without the prior approval of the Authority at any time while the licence is in force.

Convictions

The vehicle licence holder shall notify the Authority, in writing and within 48 hours of an arrest and release, charge or conviction of any sexual offence, any offence involving dishonesty or violence and any motoring offence imposed during the period of their hackney carriage vehicle licence.

Vehicle Insurance

The vehicle licence holder shall throughout the period of the licence, keep in force in relation to the user of the private hire vehicle, a suitable policy of insurance which cover, public hire use, third party liability both in respect of physical injury or death and in respect to personal belongings.

Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles

The vehicle licence holder shall ensure any person permitted to drive the vehicle is fully trained and can safely use all the specialist equipment in the vehicle, in particular the licence holder must satisfy himself that the driver can safely load/unload and secure any passenger travelling in a wheelchair.