Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers' Conditions

1. Appearance

• the Driver shall be clean and tidy in appearance
• the Driver shall at all times be dressed in a manner not to cause embarrassment to members of the public and in particular, but without prejudice, to the generality of the foregoing:
  • shall wear smart casual or business dress, which includes tailored knee length shorts and smart jeans
  • shall not wear - swimming costumes; sleeveless vests or singlets; ripped or torn jeans; cut-down shorts; T-shirts containing any printing of an offensive or inflammatory matter

2. Conduct

1. When hired to drive to a particular destination, a driver shall (subject to any directions given by the hirer) proceed to that destination by the shortest available route.

   • the Driver shall behave in a professional, courteous, civil and orderly manner at all times
   • the Driver shall take all reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of persons conveyed in, entering or alighting from the vehicle
   • the Driver shall at all times when operating, wear the badge provided by the Council in such position as to be plainly visible
   • the Driver shall not smoke in the vehicle at any time. The use of Electronic Cigarettes (e-cigs), Personal Vaporizers (PV) and Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) is also prohibited at all times
   • eating or drinking in the vehicle without the express consent of the passenger(s) is not permitted
   • the Driver shall not cause or permit the noise emitted by any radio or other equipment in the vehicle to be a source of nuisance or annoyance to any person, whether inside or outside the vehicle

3. Badges

• ​​​​​​the Driver's badge must be worn in a position where it may be seen at all times
  • the driver shall upon expiry (without immediate renewal), revocation or suspension of his licence, forthwith return to the Council the driver's badge issued to him by the Council
  • Driver badges remain the property of the Council at all times
• a driver shall not damage or deface a driver's badge nor allow any other person to do so
• in the event of a disqualification from driving, a driver shall immediately inform the Borough Council and return their driver's badge

4. Prompt attendance

1. The Driver who has agreed or has been hired or he/she has otherwise been instructed by the Operator or proprietor of the vehicle to be in attendance with the vehicle at an appointed time and place shall, unless delayed or prevented by some sufficient cause, punctually attend with the vehicle at such appointed time and place

5. Fare to be demanded

1. The Driver shall not demand from any hirer of a private hire vehicle a fare in excess of that previously agreed for the hiring between the hirer and the Operator or, if the vehicle is fitted with a taximeter and there has been no previous agreement as to the fare, the fare shown on the taximeter. Journeys shall be by the shortest or most direct route unless requested otherwise.

6. Number of passengers

• the Driver shall not convey in the vehicle a greater number of persons than the number of persons specified in the vehicle licence and on the plate affixed to the outside of the vehicle, regardless of the age of any passenger carried
• the Driver shall not convey in the front seat, any child below the age of twelve years, unless that child is wearing a suitable restraint and not more than one person in that seat
• the Driver shall not, without the consent of the hirer, permit any other person to be carried whilst hired

7. Luggage

• the Driver of a vehicle so constructed as to carry luggage shall, when requested by a person hiring the vehicle:
  • convey a reasonable amount of luggage
  • afford reasonable assistance in loading and unloading
  • afford reasonable assistance in removing it to or from the entrance of any building, station or any place at which he may take up or set down such person

8. Carriage of animals

1. Only animals belonging to or in the custody of any passenger may be carried in a licensed vehicle whilst operating. This is at the discretion of the driver with the exception of assistance dogs, which must be accepted. It is an offence under the Equality Act for a driver (unless they hold an Exemption certificate) to refuse to carry a Guide, Hearing, or other assistance dogs - such as Dogs for the Disabled, Support Dogs, Canine Partners for Independence - that is in the charge of a fare paying passenger. No charge shall be made for the carriage of such a dog whilst in the company of a disabled person or any person training such a dog and the dog should be allowed to remain with the passenger.

2. Any driver with a medical reason for not complying with this condition must obtain a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner to exempt him or her. An application must then be made to the Council for an Exemption Certificate. A payment for such certificate(s) may be charged. All vehicles and drivers must comply with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 in respect of carrying assistance dogs.

9. Receipts

1. Any passenger requesting a receipt for any payment made, must be provided with a receipt showing the date, fare paid and must be signed by the driver. This shall be in such a form as to identify the company or individual providing the receipt.

10. Breakdowns

1. In the event of a breakdown during a hiring, the driver shall ensure that alternative arrangements are made for passengers to continue their journey.

11. Lost property

• the Driver shall immediately after the termination of any hiring of a vehicle or as soon as practicable thereafter, carefully search the vehicle for any property which may have been accidentally left there

• any property found by or handed to the driver, should be reported to the Borough Council Licensing Team and where necessary taken within 24 hours to the nearest police station and left in the custody of the officer in charge

12. Death of a passenger

• any driver, who knowingly carries in the vehicle, the dead body of any person shall immediately thereafter notify the fact to the Borough Council Licensing Team

13. Touting and soliciting

1. The Driver shall not, whilst driving or in charge of a private hire vehicle:

   • tout or solicit any person to hire, or be carried for hire in any private hire vehicle
   • cause or procure any other person to tout or solicit any person to hire or be carried for hire in any private hire vehicle
   • ply for hire or appear to be plying for hire by offering a vehicle for immediate hire while they or that vehicle are on a road or other public place
   • accept an offer for the immediate hire of a vehicle while they or that vehicle are on a road or other public place except where the offer is first communicated to the driver in person by telephone or vehicle radio without him / her in any way procuring the offer
2. In this condition "road" means any highway and any other road to which the public has access and includes bridges over which a road passes.