Taxi Driver Online

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.

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Of course many councils allow a roof light as long as it just advertises the firm, or the firms number.

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IDFIMH

But not for much longer if the DfT have their "Best Practise" way..

In the interests of fairness, I propose that PH should lose their roof-lights, in exchange for taxis losing their premiums.

I can't be fairer than that.

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IDFIMH

Try harder. I'll bet you could be a lot fairer.