Hackney carriage byelaws
Made under Section 68 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 and Section 171 of the Public Health Act 1875, by the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport with respect to Hackney carriages in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport.
Interpretation
- Throughout these byelaws "the council" means the Metropolitan Borough Council of Stockport. "The district" means the area of the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport.
Provisions regulating the manner in which the number of the hackney carriage corresponding with the number of its licence shall be displayed:
- (a) the proprietor of a hackney carriage shall cause the number of 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 the plates affixed thereto.
i ) Not wilfully or negligently cause or suffer any such number to be concealed from public view whilst the carriage is standing or plying for hire.
ii ) Not cause or permit the carriage to stand or ply for hire with any such paintings, marking or plate so defaced that any figure or material particular is illegible.
Provisions regulating how Hackney carriages are to be furnished or provided
- The proprietor of a Hackney carriage shall:
a ) provide sufficient means by which any person in the carriage may communicate with the driver;
b ) cause the roof or covering to be kept water tight;
c ) provide any necessary windows and a means of opening and closing not less than one window on each side;
d ) cause the seals to be properly cushioned and covered;
e ) cause the floor to be provided with a proper carpet, mat or other suitable covering;
f ) cause the fittings and furniture generally to be kept in a clean condition, well maintained and in every way fit for public service;
g ) provide means for securing luggage if the carriage is so constructed as to carry luggage;
h ) provide an efficient fire extinguisher which shall be carried in such a position as to be readily available for use;
i ) 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;
j ) provide adequate first aid material which shall be carried in such a position as to be readily available for use.
- The proprietor of a Hackney carriage shall cause any taximeter with which the carriage is provided to be so constructed, attached and maintained as to comply with the following requirements, that is to say:
a ) the taximeter shall be fitted with a key, flag or other device the turning of which will bring the machinery of the taximeter into action and cause the word 'HIRED' to appear on the face of the taximeter;
b ) such key, flag or other device shall be capable of being locked in such a position that the machinery of the taximeter if not in action and that no fare is recorded on the face of the taximeter;
c ) 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 of fare which the proprietor or driver is entitled to demand for the hire of the carriage by distance in pursuance of the byelaw in that behalf;
d ) 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;
e ) 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 suitable illuminated during any period of hiring;
f ) 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
The following are provisions regulating the conduct of the proprietors and drivers of Hackney carriages plying for hire within the district in the several employments and determining whether such drivers shall wear any and what badges:
- The driver of a Hackney carriage provided with a taximeter shall:
a ) 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;
b ) As soon as the carriage if hired by distance and before beginning the journey, 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;
c ) Cause the dial of the taximeter to be kept properly illuminated throughout any part of the hiring which is during the hours of darkness as defined tor the purposes of the Road Traffic Act 1972 and also at any other time at the request of the hirer.
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.
The driver of a Hackney carriage shall, when plying for hire in any street and not actually hired:
a ) proceed with reasonable speed to one of the stands fixed by the byelaw in that behalf;
b ) 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;
c ) 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;
d ) 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.
A proprietor or 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 the purpose.
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.
The proprietor or driver of a Hackney carriage who has agreed or who 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.
The driver of a Hackney carriage when hired to drive to any particular destination shall, subject to any directions given by the hirer, proceed to that destination by the shortest available route.
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.
If a badge has been provided by the council and delivered to the driver of a Hackney carriage, either with the licence granted to him by the council, or afterwards, he shall when standing or plying for hire and when hired, wear that badge in such a position and manner as to be plainly visible.
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:
a ) convey a reasonable quantity of luggage;
b ) afford reasonable assistance in loading and unloading;
c ) 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.
The driver of a Hackney carriage who is standing, plying or driving for hire shall at any time when required by an officer of the council or any police constable, or any person who is in or upon the carriage, produce a copy of these byelaws, clean and in good order for perusal and inspection by that officer, constable or person.
Each of the several places specified in the following list shall be a stand for such a number of Hackney carriages as is specified in the list:
Chestergate, Stockport
South side from its junction with Mersey Square to a point 115 metres in an easterly direction.
Space for 23 taxis.
Princes Street, Stockport North
West side from a point 40 feet in a south-westerly direction from the south-westerly kerbline· of Brown Street extending in a south-westerly direction for 15 metres.
Space for 3 taxis.
St Petersgate, Stockport
North side of St Petersgate from a point 45 feet in an easterly direction from the easterly kerbline to the entrance road to the North West Water Authority's premises, extending in an easterly direction for a distance of 10 metres (between 6:30pm and midnight only).
Space for 2 taxis.
Tiviot Dale, Stockport
East side from its junction with Bridge Street and Percy Street for 27 metres in a northerly direction.
Space for 5 taxis.
Castle Street, Edgeley
North side from a point 12 metres west of its junction with York Street for a distance of 12 metres.
Space for 2 taxis.
Castle Street, Edgeley
North side from a point 5 metres east of the westerly kerb line of Worral Street, for a distance of 12 metres.
Space for 2 taxis.
Grand Central Way, Stockport
Westerly side from a point 73 metres from its junction with Railway Road for a distance of 20 metres.
Space for 4 taxis.
Grand Central Way, Stockport
Storage rank on the easterly side 12 metres from the junction with Railway Road for a distance of 20 metres (between 9am and 3:30am).
Space for 4 taxis.