A 'Hackney Carriage' is more commonly called a Taxi. It is the
responsibility of the Council to regulate the number of Hackney
Carriages it licences.
This licence is required for any chauffeur-driven hire vehicle that
will ply for hire, be flagged down or hired at a taxi rank. Once
licensed a taxi is always a taxi until the licence expires. These
vehicles have a roof sign and display a white plate on the rear of
the vehicle.
Before a vehicle is licensed it must pass an MOT test to ensure its
safety. We issue licences for taxis and ensure that the vehicles
are suitable and adequately insured to ensure high standards of
safety.
Also, the licence is issued subject to the following
conditions:
Identification Plates
The identification plate shall remain the property of the Council
at all times and shall be affixed to the exterior rear of the
vehicle and shall be maintained and kept in such condition that the
information printed on the plate is clearly visible to the public
at all times.
Maintenance of Vehicle
The vehicle and all its fittings and equipment
shall at all times when the vehicle is in use or available for hire
be kept in an efficient, safe, tidy and clean condition and all
relevant statutory requirements (including in particular those
contained in Motor Vehicles Construction and use Regulations) shall
be fully complied with.
Alteration of Vehicle
No material alteration or change in the specification, design,
condition or appearance of the vehicle shall be made without the
approval of the Council at any time while the licence is in
force.
Passengers
The proprietor of a hackney carriage shall not convey or permit to
be conveyed in a licensed vehicle any greater number of persons
than that prescribed on the licence issued by the Council and on
the licence plate affixed to the rear of the vehicle. The driver
shall not allow there to be conveyed in the front of a hackney
carriage any child below the age of 10 years. The driver shall not
without the consent of the hirer of a vehicle convey or permit to
be conveyed any other person in that vehicle.
Animals
The proprietor shall not permit any animals to ride in the vehicle
except an animal in the custody or control of the hirer, which
animal shall be conveyed in the rear of the vehicle.
Safety Equipment
Luggage Rack
A suitable rack, or other device, must be fitted in estate type
vehicles to prevent luggage entering the passenger compartment
should the vehicle stop suddenly.
Fire Extinguisher
These shall be provided and maintained at all times when in use as
a private hire vehicle.
Communications Equipment
Two Way Radios
The proprietor shall ensure that any radio equipment fitted to the
private hire vehicle is at all times kept in a safe and sound
condition and maintained in proper working order.
Mobile Telephones
Mobile telephones may only be used with a hands-free kit.
Taximeters
The proprietor shall ensure the vehicle is fitted with a taximeter
approved by the Council, and that meter shall be maintained in a
sound mechanical condition at all times. The taximeter shall be set
for the current tariff agreed by the Council and shall be sealed to
prevent unauthorised adjustment of that meter. The proprietor shall
ensure the "For Hire" sign or other illuminated sign is
extinguished when the fare commences, and the taximeter brought
into operation.
Fare Tables
The proprietor shall ensure that a copy of the current fare table
supplied by the Council is on display inside the hackney carriage
at all times and that table is not concealed from view or rendered
illegible when the vehicle is for hire.
Vehicle Insurance
At all times during the currency of the Licence the proprietor
shall keep in force in relation to the use of the vehicle as a
hackney carriage a Policy of insurance complying with the
requirements of Part V1 of the Road Traffic Act 1984. The
proprietor shall produce to the Council a new Certificate of
Insurance or cover note within 7 days of the expiry of every
Certificate of Insurance or cover note prior to renewal date.
Convictions
The proprietor shall within seven days disclose to
the Council in writing details of any conviction imposed on him
(or, if the proprietor is a company or partnership, on any of the
directors or partners) during the period of the insurance.
Change of Address
Any proprietor changing his place of abode must give notice in
writing to the Council within seven days of such change.
Cheques
A licence in respect of which the fee has been paid by cheque shall
not be effective until the cheque has been cleared.
Display of Terms and Conditions
The proprietor of the vehicle shall at all times when the vehicle
is being used by fare-paying passengers have within the vehicle for
inspection by those passengers a copy of these terms and
conditions.
Upon request we can e-mail a copy of your approved licence to
you.
We look forward to receiving your application and if you have any
difficulty with any of the forms or have any questions, please
contact us using the contact details below:
E-mail:
licensing@waveney.gov.uk
Telephone: 01502 523236
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