Drivers private hire conditions
To comply with the private hire vehicle licence granted by the Borough Council the driver must:
a) provide reasonable help with the passengers' luggage;
b) be clean, dress respectably and behave in a civil and orderly manner;
c) take reasonable care to ensure the safety of his/her passengers as they get in and out of the vehicle and during the journey;
d) not smoke, drink or eat in the vehicle without the agreement of the hirer of the vehicle;
e) not play any radio or sound reproducing instrument or equipment in the vehicle without the express permission of the hirer. This does not include sending or receiving messages in connection with the operation of the vehicle;
f) at no time allow permit the noise from the radio/other sound equipment to be a source of nuisance or annoyance to people inside or outside the vehicle.
Passengers
2. The driver must not carry more passengers than the number prescribed in the licence for the vehicle.
The driver must not carry another person without the permission of the hirer.
Lost property
3. The driver must search the vehicle for lost property immediately after a journey or as soon as practicable thereafter.
Written receipts
4. The driver must if requested provide the passenger with a written receipt for the fare paid.
Animals
5. A driver of a private hire vehicle which has been hired:
(a) by or for a disabled person with their guide, hearing or prescribed assistance dog; or
(b) by a person who will be accompanied in the vehicle by such a disabled person;
must
(a) carry the disabled passenger's dog and allow it to remain with the passenger; and
(b) not make any additional charge for doing so.
An "assistance dog" is a dog which is trained by specific charities, i.e. Dogs for the Disabled, Support Dogs or Canine Partners for Independence and must be wearing a jacket inscribed with the name of one of those charities at the time its owner hires a private hire vehicle.
A private hire driver with a medical condition or chronic phobia to dogs that would be aggravated by carrying dogs may apply to the Council for an Exemption Certificate and shall supply medical information from an appropriate specialist.
A driver who has been issued a certificate of exemption should exhibit the notice by either fixing it to the windscreen facing outwards or fixing it in a prominent position on the dashboard.
A driver to whom an exemption certificate has been issued must not:
- forge or alter the exemption certificate;
- lend the exemption certificate to anyone else;
- allow the exemption certificate to be used by someone else;
- make or have in his possession any document which resembles an exemption certificate.
The driver must not transport any animal belonging to or in the custody of himself/herself or the owner or operator of the vehicle.
Any animal, other than a guide, hearing or prescribed assistance dog, belonging to or in the custody of any passenger may be conveyed at the driver's discretion in the rear of the vehicle only.
Prompt attendance
6. The driver of a private hire vehicle must punctually attend at the appointed time and place, unless delayed or prevented by sufficient cause.
Deposit of licence
7. If the driver is permitted or employed to drive a private hire vehicle owned by someone else, he/she must hand his/her licence to the vehicle owner.
The licence should be given back only when the driver ceases to be permitted or employed to drive the vehicle.
TAXIMETER
8. If a private hire vehicle is fitted with a taximeter, the driver must not cancel or conceal the fare recorded until the hirer has had a reasonable opportunity to examine it and has paid the fare (unless credit is to be given).
FARE TO BE DEMANDED
9. The driver must not charge the passenger a fare in excess of any previously agreed between the hirer and the operator.
Nor, if the vehicle is fitted with a taximeter and there has been no previous agreement as to the fare, should the driver charge a fare higher than that shown on the face of the taximeter.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
10. The driver must notify the Council in writing of any change of his/her address during the period of the licence within seven days of moving.
CONVICTIONS
11. The driver shall within seven days disclose to the Council in writing details of any conviction imposed on him during the period of the licence.
RETURN OF BADGE
12. The driver must upon the expiry (without immediate renewal), revocation or suspension of this licence return to the Council the driver's badge issued to him by the Council when granting this licence.