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Watford Borough Council
Licence - hackney carriage - taxi
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, is suspended or revoked. These vehicles are either black and white, or are a London-style taxi, have a roof sign and display a white plate on the rear of the vehicle.
Before a vehicle is licensed, it must pass a Council garage test to ensure its safety. Appointments for garage tests are made directly with the Council's two nominated test centres. 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, it 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
When the vehicle is in use or available for hire, the vehicle and all its fittings and equipment shall at all times be kept in an efficient, safe, tidy and clean condition. All relevant statutory requirements (including, in particular, those contained in the 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 any greater number of persons than that prescribed on the licence issued by the Council and on the licence plate affixed to the vehicle. The driver shall not allow any child below the age of 10 years, or more than one person above that age, to be conveyed in the front of a hackney carriage. The driver shall not convey or permit to be conveyed any other person in a vehicle without the consent of the hirer of 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, this animal shall be conveyed in the rear of the vehicle. It is illegal for a driver to refuse to carry a guide or assistance dog unless the driver has a medical exemption certificate from the Council.Safety equipment
Luggage rack
A roof rack may be used only when excess luggage is to be carried. A suitable rack 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. A suitable and efficient fire extinguisher (1.0 kg) to meet BSEN 31996 (BS 5423) shall be securely fixed in the driver's compartment and be readily visible and available for immediate use in an emergency.
Communications equipment
Two way radios
The proprietor shall ensure that any radio equipment fitted to the vehicle is in a position approved by the Council, is at all times kept in a safe and sound condition and is maintained in proper working order.
Mobile telephones
Mobile telephones may only be used with a hands-free kit. Ideally this kit should be a hard wired, professionally fitted facility within the vehicle.
Taximeters
The proprietor shall ensure that 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 the table is not concealed from view or rendered illegible when the vehicle is for hire.
Vehicle insurance
At all times during the validity 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.
Convictions
The proprietor shall within 28 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.
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