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Revised Statute from The UK Statute Law Database

London Cab Act 1968 (c. 7)

This version of this statute is extracted from the UK Statute Law Database (SLD). It is not necessarily in the form in which it was originally enacted but is a revised version, which means that any subsequent amendments to the text and other effects are incorporated with annotations.

There are effects on this legislation that have not yet been applied to SLD for the following years: 2003 and 2004. See the Tables of Legislative effects and the Update status of legislation page on the SLD website.

Royal arms

London Cab Act 1968

1968 CHAPTER 7

An Act to extend the power of the Secretary of State to prescribe fares in respect of journeys by cab within the metropolitan police district and the City of London; to make provision for extending the length of such journeys which the driver of a cab is obliged by law to undertake; to relax restrictions on the parking of cabs; to prohibit the display on certain vehicles in that district or the City of London of signs or notices containing the word “taxi” or “cab” and signs or notices of certain other descriptions; and to restrict the issue, in connection with certain vehicles, of advertisements containing either of those words.

[15th February 1968]

Annotations:

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1Words of enactment omitted under authority of Statute Law Revision Act 1948 (c. 62), s. 3

Commencement Information

I1Act (except s. 4(1)-(5)) in force at Royal Assent see s. 4(6)

1 Power to regulate fares for non-obligatory journeys

(1)The power of [F1Transport for London] under paragraph (3) of section 9 of the M1Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869 and section 1 of the M2London Cab and Stage Carriage Act 1907 (regulations governing cab fares in London) shall include power to prescribe fares for the hire of cabs in respect of all journeys in London whether or not the journey is one which the driver of the cab is obliged by law to undertake.

[F2(1A)The power conferred by subsection (1) of this section is subject to paragraph (4) of the restrictions specified in section 9 of the said Act of 1869.]

(2)In this section “cab”, “fare” and “London” have the same meaning as in the said Act of 1907, and for the purposes of this section a journey shall be treated as a journey in London if it begins and ends there.

Annotations:

Amendments (Textual)

F1Words in s. 1(1) substituted (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 253, Sch. 20 Pt. I para. 7(2) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/801, art. 2(2)(c), Sch. Pt. 3

F2S. 1(1A) inserted (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 253, Sch. 20 Pt. I para. 7(3) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/801, art. 2(2)(c), Sch. Pt. 3

Subordinate Legislation Made

P1S. 1: power exercised by S.I. 1991/1301

S. 1: for previous exercises of this power see Index to Government Orders

Marginal Citations

M11869 c. 115.

M21907 c. 55.

2 Power to increase length of obligatory journeys

(1)[F1Transport for London] may [F2by London cab order] direct that for the reference to the distance of six miles in section 7 and paragraph (2) of section 17 of the M1London Hackney Carriage Act 1853 (being the length of a journey which the driver of a cab is by law obliged to undertake) there shall be substituted a reference to such greater distance as appears to [F3Transport for London] to be appropriate.

(2)[F2A London cab order] under this section may be limited so as to apply only in relation to hirings in respect of journeys which begin, or which end, at such places as may be specified in the order, and may substitute different distances in relation to such hirings or any of them and in relation to other hirings.

(3)The power to make [F2London cab orders] under this section includes power to vary or revoke a previous [F4such] order F5. . . .

(4)Before making [F2any London cab order] under this section [F1Transport for London] shall consult with such bodies appearing to [F3Transport for London] to represent the owners and drivers of cabs as [F3Transport for London] considers appropriate.

Annotations:

Amendments (Textual)

F1Words in s. 2(1)(4) substituted (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 253, Sch. 20 Pt. I para. 7(4)(a)(i)(d)(ii) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/801, art. 2(2)(c), Sch. Pt. 3

F2Words in s. 2(1)-(4) substituted (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 253, Sch. 20 Pt. I para. 7(4)(a)(ii)(b)(c)(i)(d)(i) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/801, art. 2(2)(c), Sch. Pt. 3

F3Words in s. 2(1)(4) substituted (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 253, Sch. 20 Pt. I para. 7(4)(a)(ii)(d)(iii) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/801, art. 2(2)(c), Sch. Pt. 3

F4Words in s. 2(3) inserted (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 253, Sch. 20 Pt. I para. 7(4)(c)(ii) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/801, art. 2(2)(c), Sch. Pt. 3

F5Words in s. 2(3) repealed (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 253, Sch. 20 Pt. I para. 7(4)(c)(iii), Sch. 34 Pt. V (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/801, art. 2(2)(c), Sch. Pt. 3

Marginal Citations

M11853 c. 33.

3 Relaxation of restrictions on the parking of cabs

(1)Section 55 of the M1London Hackney Carriage Act 1831 (which makes it an offence to leave a cab unattended) is hereby repealed.

(2)In section 35 of the said Act of 1831 (under which a cab found standing in any street or place is, in certain circumstances, deemed to be plying for hire) the reference to a street or place shall not include a reference to any parking place for the time being designated by an order in force under the M2Road Traffic Regulation Act [F11984]or to any part of a road the use of which as a parking place is for the time being authorised by an order in force under that Act.

(3)Notwithstanding anything in any enactment whereby the said section 35 has effect in relation to premises of the British Railways Board or the London Transport Board, the reference in that section to a street or place shall not include a reference to any part of those premises which is set aside by the Board concerned as a parking place for vehicles.

Annotations:

Amendments (Textual)

F1

“1984” substituted by Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (c. 27, SIF 107:1), s. 146, Sch. 13 para. 4

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1The text of ss. 3(1), 5(2) is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.

C2S. 3(3) amended by London Regional Transport Act 1984 (c. 32, SIF 126), s. 67(2), Sch. 4 Pt. I para. 1(1)(2)(d)

Marginal Citations

M11831 c. 22.

M21984 c. 27.

4 Prohibition of the display of certain signs or notices on, and the issue of certain advertisements in connection with, private hire-cars

(1)There shall not, in the metropolitan police district or the City of London, be displayed on any private hire-car any sign or notice—

(a)which consists of or includes the word “taxi” or “cab”, whether in the singular or plural and whether alone or as part of another word; or

(b)which consists of the words “for hire”, or the form or wording of which is in any other way such as to suggest that the vehicle on which it is displayed is presently available to take up any passenger wishing to hire it, or would be so available if not already hired.

(2)No advertisement—

(a)indicating that motor vehicles can be hired on application to a specified address or telephone number, being the address or telephone number of premises in the metropolitan police district or the City of London; or

(b)on or near any such premises indicating that motor vehicles can be hired at those premises,

shall include the word “taxi” or “cab”, whether in the singular or plural and whether alone or as part of another word, unless the vehicles offered for hire are licensed cabs or the advertisement makes it clear that they are not.

(3)Any person who—

(a)drives a vehicle in respect of which subsection (1) of this section is contravened or causes or permits that subsection to be contravened in respect of any vehicle; or

(b)subject to subsection (4) of this section, issues, or causes to be issued, an advertisement which contravenes subsection (2) of this section,

shall be guilty of an offence and [F1liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F2level 4 on the standard scale]].

(4)Where a person is charged with an offence under paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of this section, it shall be a defence to prove that he is a person whose business it is to publish or arrange for the publication of advertisements and that he received the advertisement in question for publication in the ordinary course of business and did not know and had no reason to suspect that its publication would amount to an offence under that paragraph.

(5)In this section—

  • “advertisement” includes every form of advertising, whether in a publication or by the display of notices or by means of circulars or other documents or by an exhibition of photographs or a cinematograph film, or by way of sound broadcasting or television [F3or by inclusion in any programme service (within the meaning of the Broadcasting Act 1990) other than a sound or television broadcasting service], and references to the issue of an advertisement shall be construed accordingly;

  • “private hire-car” means a motor vehicle, other than a licensed cab or public service vehicle [F4or tramcar], which is used for the purpose of carrying passengers for hire or reward;

  • “licensed cab” means a vehicle licensed under section 6 of the M1Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869, section 37 of the M2Town Police Clauses Act 1847 or any similar local enactment; and

  • “public service vehicle” has the same meaning as in the M3Road Traffic Act 1960.

(6)The foregoing provisions of this section shall come into force on such date as the Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument appoint.

Annotations:

Amendments (Textual)

F1Words substituted by London Cab Act 1973 (c. 20), s. 1

F2Words substituted by virtue of Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), ss. 38, 46

F3Words inserted by virtue of Broadcasting Act 1990 (c. 42, SIF 96), s. 203(1), Sch. 20 para. 10

F4Words in definition in s. 4(5) inserted (E.W.S.) (8.7.1996) by Transport and Works Act 1992 (c. 42), s. 62(2); S.I. 1996/1609, art. 2, Sch.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C115.7.1968 appointed for s. 4(1)-(5) by S.I. 1968/597

Marginal Citations

M11869 c. 115.

M21847 c. 89.

M31960 c. 16.

F14A

(1)[F2Transport for London] may, with a view to preventing private hire-cars from competing unfairly with vehicles licensed under section 6 of the M1Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869, [F3by London cab order] prohibit the display on or from private hire-cars in the metropolitan police district and the City of London of any sign, notice, mark, illumination or other feature of a description specified in the order.

(2)Any prohibition imposed [F3by a London cab order] under this section may be expressed to apply only in circumstances specified in the order or to apply subject to any exceptions so specified.

(3)The power to make [F3London cab orders] under this section includes power to vary or revoke a previous [F4such]order [F5and shall be exercisable by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament].

(4)Before making any [F3London cab order] under this section [F2Transport for London] shall consult with such bodies appearing to [F6Transport for London] to represent the owners and drivers of vehicles licensed under section 6 of the said Act of 1869 and the private hire-car trade as [F6Transport for London] considers appropriate.

(5)This section is without prejudice to subsection (1) of section 4 of this Act and the references in subsection (3)(a) of that section to contravention of the said subsection (1) shall include references to contravention of [F3a London cab order] under this section.

(6)In this section “private hire-car” has the same meaning as in section 4 of this Act.

Annotations:

Amendments (Textual)

F1S. 4A added by London Cab Act 1973 (c. 20), s. 2

F2Words in s. 4A(1)(4) substituted (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 253, Sch. 20 Pt. I para. 7(5)(a)(i)(d)(ii) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/801, art. 2(2)(c), Sch. Pt. 3

F3Words in s. 4A(1)-(5) substituted (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 253, Sch. 20 Pt. I para. 7(5)(a)(ii)(b)(c)(i)(d)(i)(e) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/801, art. 2(2)(c), Sch. Pt. 3

F4Word in s. 4A(3) inserted (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 253, Sch. 20 Pt. I para. 7(5)(c)(ii) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/801, art. 2(2)(c), Sch. Pt. 3

F5Words in s. 4A(3) repealed (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 253, Sch. 20 Pt. I para. 7(5)(c)(iii), Sch. 34 Pt. V (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/801, art. 2(2)(c), Sch. Pt. 3

F6Words in s. 4A(4) substituted (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 253, Sch. 20 Pt. I para. 7(5)(d)(iii) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/801, art. 2(2)(c), Sch. Pt. 3

Marginal Citations

M11869 c. 115.

[ F14B London cab orders

(1)In this Act, “London cab order” means an order made by Transport for London.

(2)Any power to make a London cab order under or by virtue of this Act includes power to vary or revoke a previous such order.]

Annotations:

Amendments (Textual)

F1S. 4B inserted (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 253, Sch. 20 Pt. I para. 7(6) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/801, art. 2(2)(c), Sch. Pt. 3

5 Short title and repeals

(1)This Act may be cited as the London Cab Act 1968.

(2)In paragraph (2) of section 9 of the Metropoliltan Public Carriage Act 1869 the words “and the distances to which they may be compelled to take passengers” and the restriction numbered (2) in that section are herby repealed.

Annotations:

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1The text of ss. 3(1), 5(2) is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.