Hackney carriage bylaws

Throughout these byelaws "the Council" means the Chorley Borough Council and "the District" means the Borough of Chorley.

Provisions regulating the manner in which the number of each hackney carriage, corresponding with the number of its licence, shall be displayed.

(a) The proprietor of a hackney carriage shall cause the number of the licence granted to him in respect of the carriage to be legibly painted or marked on the outside and inside of the carriage, or on plates affixed thereto.

(b)    A proprietor or driver of a hackney carriage shall:

• not wilfully or negligently cause or suffer any such number to be concealed from public view while the carriage is standing or plying for hire
• not cause or permit the carriage to stand or ply for hire with any such painting, marking or plate so defaced that any figure or material particular is illegible.

Provisions regulating how hackney carriages are to be furnished or provided

3. The proprietor of a hackney carriage shall:

• provide  sufficient  means  by  which  any  person  in  the  carriage  may communicate with the driver
• cause the roof or covering to be kept water-tight
• provide any necessary windows and a means of opening and closing not less than one window one each side
• cause the seats to be properly cushioned or covered
• cause the floor to be provided with a proper carpet, mat or other suitable covering
• cause the fittings and furniture generally to be kept in a clean condition, well maintained and in every way fit for public service
• provide means for securing luggage if the carriage is so constructed as to carry luggage
• provide  an  efficient  fire extinguisher which  shall be  carried in  such  a position as to be readily available for use
• provide at least two doors for the use of persons conveyed in  such carriage and a separate means of ingress and egress for the driver.

4. The proprietor of a hackney carriage shall cause the same to be provided with a taximeter so constructed, attached and maintained as to comply with the following requirements, that is to say:

• the taximeter shall be fitted with a key, flag or other device the operation of which will bring the machinery of the taximeter into action and cause the word "HIRED" to appear on the face of the taximeter
• such key, flag, or other device shall be capable of being locked in such a position that the machinery of the taximeter is not in action and that no fare is recorded on the face of the taximeter
• when the machinery of the taximeter is in action there shall be recorded on the face of the taximeter in clearly legible figures a fare not exceeding the rate or fare which the proprietor or driver is entitled to demand and take for the hire of the carriage by distance in pursuance of the tariff fixed by the Council in that behalf
• the word "FARE" shall be printed on the face of the taximeter in plain letters so as clearly to apply to the fare recorded thereon;
• the taximeter shall be so placed that all letters and figures on the face thereof are at all times plainly visible to any person being conveyed in the carriage, and for that purpose the letters and figures shall be capable of being suitably illuminated during any period of hiring
• the taximeter and all the fittings thereof shall be so affixed to the carriage with seals or other appliances that it shall not be practicable for any person to tamper with them except by breaking, damaging or permanently displacing the seals or other appliances.

Provisions regulating the conduct of the proprietors and drivers of hackney carriages plying within the district in their several employments, and determining whether such drivers shall wear any and what badges

5. The driver of a hackney carriage provided with a taximeter shall:

• when standing or plying for hire, keep the key, flag or other device fitted in pursuance of the byelaw in that behalf locked in the position in which no fare is recorded on the face of the taximeter
• before beginning a journey for which a fare is charged for distance and time, bring the machinery of the taximeter into action by moving the said key, flag or other device, so that the word "HIRED" is legible on the face of the taximeter and keep the machinery of the taximeter in action until the termination of the hiring
• cause the dial of the taximeter to be kept properly illuminated throughout any part of the hiring which is during the hours of darkness; this being the time between half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise, and also at any other time at the request of the hirer.

7. A proprietor or driver of a hackney carriage shall not tamper with or permit any person to tamper with any taximeter with which the carriage is provided, with the fittings thereof or with the seals affixed thereto.
8. The driver of a hackney carriage shall, when plying for hire in any street and not actually hired,

• proceed with reasonable speed to one of the stands fixed by the Council in that behalf
• if a stand, at the time of his arrival, is occupied by the full number of carriages authorised to occupy it, proceed to another stand
• on arriving at a stand not already occupied by the full number of carriages authorised to occupy it, station the carriage immediately behind the carriage or carriages on the stand and so as to face in the same direction
• from time to time when any other carriage immediately in front is driven off or moved forward cause his carriage to be moved forward so as to fill the place previously occupied by the carriage driven off or moved forward.

8. A proprietor of driver of a hackney carriage, when standing or plying for hire, shall not, by calling out or otherwise, importune any person to hire such carriage and shall not make use of the services of any other person for that purpose.
9. The driver of a hackney carriage shall behave in a civil and orderly manner and shall take all reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of persons conveyed in or entering or alighting from the vehicle.
10. The proprietor or driver of a hackney carriage who has agreed or has been hired to be in attendance with the carriage at an appointed time and place shall, unless delayed or prevented by some sufficient cause, punctually attend with such carriage at such appointed time and place.
11. A proprietor or driver of a hackney carriage shall not convey or permit to be conveyed in such carriage any greater number of persons than the number of persons specified on the plate affixed to the outside of the carriage.
12. If a badge has been provided by the Council and delivered to the driver of a hackney carriage he shall, when standing or plying for hire, and when hired, wear that badge in such position and manner as to be plainly visible.
13. The driver of a hackney carriage so constructed as to carry luggage shall, when requested by any person hiring or seeking to hire the carriage,

• convey a reasonable quantity 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 place at which he may take up or set down such person.

Provisions fixing the rates or fares to be paid for hackney carriages within the district, and securing the due publication of such fares

14. The proprietor or driver of a hackney carriage shall be entitled to demand and take for the hire of the carriage the rate or fare prescribed by the Council, the rate or fare being calculated by distance unless the hirer expresses at the commencement of the hiring his desire to engage by time.

Provided always that where a hackney carriage furnished with a taximeter shall be hired by distance the proprietor or driver thereof shall not be entitled to demand and take a fare greater than that recorded on the face of the taximeter, save for any extra charges authorised by the Council which it may  not  be possible to record on the face of the taximeter.

15.    

• the proprietor of a hackney carriage shall cause a statement of the fares fixed by the Council in that behalf to be exhibited inside the carriage, in clearly distinguishable letters and figures
• the proprietor or driver of a hackney carriage bearing a statement of fares in accordance with this byelaw shall not wilfully or negligently cause or suffer the letter or figures in the statement to be concealed or rendered illegible at any time while the carriage is plying or being used for hire.

Provisions securing the safe custody and re-delivery of any property accidentally left in hackney carriages, and fixing the charges to be made in respect thereof

16. The proprietor or driver of a hackney carriage shall immediately after the termination of any hiring or as soon as practicable thereafter carefully search the carriage for any property which may have been accidentally left therein.
17. The proprietor or driver of a hackney carriage shall, if any property accidentally left therein by any person who may have been conveyed in the carriage be found by or handed to him, carry it as soon as possible and in any event within 48 hours, if not sooner claimed by or on behalf of its owner, to a police station in the district, and leave it in the custody of the officer in charge of the office to be dealt with according to local police practice.

Penalties

18. Every person who shall offend against any of these byelaws shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding Level 2 on the Standard Scale of Fines and in the case of a continuing offence to a further fine not exceeding 2 pounds for each day during which the offence continues after conviction thereof.

Repeal of Bylaws

19. The byelaws relating to hackney carriages which were made by the Chorley Borough Council on 27 July 1976 and which were confirmed by the Secretary of State on 15 October 1976 are hereby repealed.