Taxi Driver Online

Conduct of passengers.

If, with respect to a cab, any person:

* (1) hires a cab, knowing or having reason to believe that he cannot pay the lawful fare, or with intent to avoid payment of the lawful fare; or
* (2) fraudulently endeavours to avoid payment of a fare lawfully due from him; or
* (3) having failed or refused to pay a fare lawfully due from him, either refuses to give the driver an address at which he can be found or, with intent to deceive, gives a false address,

he is guilty of an offence. If any person refuses or omits to pay the driver of any hackney carriage the sum justly due to him for the hire of the hackney carriage, or if any person defaces or in any manner injures any such hackney carriage, it is lawful for any justice of the peace, upon complaint made to him, to grant a summons, or, if it appears to him necessary, a warrant, for bringing before him or any other justice, to award reasonable satisfaction to the party so complaining of his fare or for his damages and costs, and also a reasonable compensation for the loss of his time in attending to make and establish the complaint.

1 'Cab' means an hackney carriage within the meaning of the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869: London Cab Act 1896 s 3.

For the meaning of 'hackney carriage see para 1055 ante.2 Ibid s 1(a).3 Ibid s 1(b).4 Ibid s 1(c).5 Ibid s 1. Such a person is liable on summary conviction to pay, in addition to the lawful fare, a fine not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale, or, in the discretion of the court, to be imprisoned for a term not exceeding 14 days, and the whole or any part of any fine imposed may be applied in compensation to the driver: s 1 (amended by virtue of the Criminal Justice Act 1982 ss 37, 38, 46). As to the standard scale see para 29 note 3 ante.6 London Hackney Carriage Act 1831 s 41 (amended by the Statute Law Revision (No 2) Act 1988; and the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1976).

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Roof signs carried by vehicles other than hackney carriages.

No vehicle which is used for carrying passengers for hire or reward, other than a taxi, may display on or above its roof, in any part of England and Wales outside the Metropolitan Police District and the City of London, any sign which consists of or includes the word 'taxi' or 'cab', whether in the singular or plural, or 'hire', or any word of similar meaning or appearance to any of those words, whether alone or as part of another word, or any sign, notice, mark, illumination or other feature which may suggest that the vehicle is a taxi. Any person who knowingly drives a vehicle which contravenes this provision or causes or permits it to be contravened in respect of any vehicle commits an offence.

1 'Taxi' means a vehicle licensed under the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 s 37 (see para 1056 ante), or under the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869 s 6 (as substituted) (see para 1100 post): Transport Act 1980 s 64(3).2 As to the extent of the metropolitan police district and the City of London see para 1052 note 1 ante.3 Transport Act 1980 s 64(1). As to conditions which may be imposed in respect of signs on private hire vehicles see the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 s 48(2); and para 1069 ante.

For the meaning of 'private hire vehicle' see para 1063 note 5 ante.4 Ie the Transport Act 1980 s 64(1).5 Ibid s 64(2). Such a person is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale: s 64(2) (amended by virtue of the Criminal Justice Act 1982 s 46(1), (4)). As to the standard scale see para 29 note 3 ante.