The Measuring Instruments (Taximeters) Regulations 2006

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"the Directive" means Directive 2004/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31st March 2004 on measuring instruments[3];

"enforcement authority" means any person who is, pursuant to regulation 14, authorised to enforce these Regulations;

"enforcement notice" means a notice served in accordance with regulation 16(2);

"enforcement officer" means a person appointed by the Secretary of State to act on his behalf to enforce Part 2 of these Regulations;

"essential requirements" means the requirements set out in Schedule 1;

"harmonised standard" means a technical specification adopted by the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN), the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation (CENELEC) or the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) or jointly by two or all of these organisations, at the request of the Commission pursuant to Directive 98/34/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22nd June 1998 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations and of rules on Information Society Services[4], as amended by Directive 98/48/EC[5], and prepared in accordance with the General Guidelines agreed between the Commission and one or more of CEN, CENELEC and ETSI;

"in writing" includes text that is—

(a) transmitted by electronic means;

(b) received in legible form; and

(c) capable of being used for subsequent reference;

"M marking" means the M marking referred to in regulation 12;

"manufacturer" means a person responsible for the conformity of a taximeter with these Regulations with a view to either placing it on the market under his own name or putting it into use for his own purposes, or both;

"maximum permissible error" means, in the case of a taximeter, when it is placed on the market or put into use, the limit of error determined in accordance with paragraph 17 of Schedule 1;

"normative document" means a document containing technical specifications adopted by the Organisation International de Métrologie Légale, subject to the procedure stipulated in Article 16.1, the reference of which is published by the Commission in the Official Journal of the European Union pursuant to Article 16.1(b);

"notified body" means—

(a) the Secretary of State; or

(b) a United Kingdom notified body; and

(c) for the purposes of regulations 4(1)(c), 16(1)(b) and 18(6), a person designated by another member State,

who has been notified to the Commission and the other member States pursuant to Article 11.1;

"notified body criteria" means the criteria set out in Part 1 of Schedule 2;

"place on the market" means making available for the first time in a member State a taximeter intended for an end user, whether for reward or free of charge;

"put into use" means the first use of a taximeter intended for the end user for the purposes for which it was intended;

"relevant national standard" means a standard applicable to a taximeter—

(a) implementing a harmonised standard that has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union C series; and

(b) the reference of which is published—


(i) in the United Kingdom by the Secretary of State; or

(ii) in another member State by the competent authority pursuant to the third sub-paragraph of Article 13.1;

"relevant normative document" means a normative document applicable to a taximeter, the reference of which is published—

(a) in the United Kingdom by the Secretary of State; or

(b) in another member State by the competent authority pursuant to the third sub-paragraph of Article 13.2;

"taximeter" means a device that works together with a signal generator to make a measuring instrument; with the device measuring duration, calculating distance on the basis of a signal delivered by the distance signal generator; and calculating and displaying the fare to be paid for a trip on the basis of the calculated distance or the measured duration of the trip, or both; and

"United Kingdom notified body" means a person designated under regulation 7.

    (2) In these Regulations, a reference to a member State includes Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein [6].

    (3) References in these Regulations to an Article, Annex or a part of an Annex are references to an Article of, or an Annex or a part of an Annex to, the Directive.

Application
     3. —(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), these Regulations apply to a taximeter which is—

(a) intended for use for the protection of consumers; and

(b) first placed on the market or put into use on or after 30th October 2006.

    (2) These Regulations do not apply to a taximeter—

(a) in respect of which a certificate of approval has been granted before 30th October 2006 and is in force; and

(b) which is passed as fit for use for the protection of consumers and marked under the Metropolitan Conditions of Fitness[7].

    (3) These Regulations do not apply to a taximeter which is not compliant with the essential requirements and which is displayed or presented at a trade fair, exhibition or demonstration, if a sign displayed visibly on or near the instrument clearly indicates that the instrument—

(a) is not compliant with those requirements; and

(b) cannot be acquired or used until it is made compliant with those requirements by the manufacturer.

    (2) A person who fails to comply with the requirements of paragraph (1) shall be guilty of an offence and any taximeter to which the offence relates shall be liable to be forfeited.

Compliance with the essential requirements
     5. —(1) A manufacturer may demonstrate that a taximeter is compliant with the essential requirements by—

(a) using any technical solution that is compliant with the essential requirements;

(b) correctly applying solutions set out in the relevant national standard; or

(c) correctly applying solutions set out in the relevant normative document,

and selecting and following one of the conformity assessment procedures.

    (2) A taximeter which is compliant with the relevant national standard or relevant normative document shall be presumed to be compliant with the essential requirements.

    (3) Where the taximeter is compliant only in part with the relevant national standard or relevant normative document, it shall be presumed to be compliant only with that part of the essential requirements which corresponds to the element of the relevant national standard or relevant normative document with which the instrument is compliant.

    (4) Where a taximeter includes or is connected to a device which is not used for the protection of consumers—

(a) that device shall not be subject to the essential requirements; and

(b) the instrument may be considered to be compliant with the essential requirements notwithstanding that the compliance of that device with the essential requirements has not been established.

Conformity assessment procedures
     6. —(1) The conformity assessment procedures are the procedures as follows—

(a) B and F;

(b) B and D; and

(c) H1.

    (2) The manufacturer or his authorised representative shall provide to the notified body carrying out the relevant conformity assessment procedure the technical documentation set out in Schedule 3.

    (3) In this regulation—

(a) "B" means type examination, as set out in Annex B;

(b) "D" means declaration of conformity to type based on quality assurance of the production process, as set out in Annex D;

(c) "F" means declaration of conformity to type based on product verification, as set out in Annex F; and

(d) "H1" means declaration of conformity based on full quality assurance plus design examination, as set out in Annex H1.

Designation of United Kingdom notified bodies
     7. —(1) The Secretary of State may, on the application of a person, designate that person to be a United Kingdom notified body.

    (2) The Secretary of State shall not make a designation under paragraph (1) unless he is satisfied that the person meets the notified body criteria.

    (3) A person who meets the criteria laid down in a national standard shall be presumed to meet that part of the notified body criteria which corresponds to the criteria in the national standard.

    (4) A designation under paragraph (1)—

(a) shall be in writing;

(b) may be made subject to such conditions as may be specified in the designation, which may include conditions which—


(i) are to apply upon or following termination of the designation;

(ii) require the use of test equipment for the purpose of conformity assessment appropriate to the taximeter being assessed; and

(iii) limit the description of any taximeter for which the person is designated;



(c) subject to regulation 10, may last for such period as may be specified in the designation;

(d) shall specify the conformity assessment procedures and specific tasks (which may be framed by reference to any circumstances) which the person has been designated to carry out; and

(e) may include a requirement to publish from time to time the scale of fees which the person charges pursuant to regulation 11 or such information about the basis of calculation of such fees as may be specified.

    (5) In exercising the power conferred on him by paragraph (1), the Secretary of State may (in addition to the matters of which he is required to satisfy himself pursuant to paragraph (2)) have regard to any matter appearing to him to be relevant.

    (6) For the purposes of paragraph (3), "national standard" means a standard applicable to the designation of notified bodies—

(a) implementing a harmonised standard that has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union; and

(b) the reference of which is published—


(i) in the United Kingdom by the Secretary of State; or

(ii) in another member State by the competent authority pursuant to Article 11.2.

Functions of notified bodies
     8. A notified body shall carry out the functions set out in Part 2 of Schedule 2.

Provisions supplemental to regulation 7
     9. —(1) The Secretary of State shall, from time to time, publish a list of notified bodies indicating, in the case of each United Kingdom notified body, the description of any taximeter in respect of which that notified body is designated; and such a list may include information concerning any condition to which the designation of any United Kingdom notified body is subject.

    (2) The Secretary of State shall, from time to time, carry out an inspection of each United Kingdom notified body with a view to verifying that it—

(a) meets the notified body criteria;

(b) complies with any condition to which its designation is subject; and

(c) complies with these Regulations,

but, unless it appears to him that there are circumstances which make it necessary or expedient to do so, he shall not carry out an inspection within two years from the date of designation under regulation 7 or of any later inspection under this paragraph.

Variation and termination of designations
     10. —(1) The Secretary of State may vary a designation made under regulation 7 if—

(a) the United Kingdom notified body so requests; or

(b) it appears to him necessary or expedient to do so.

    (2) The Secretary of State may terminate a designation made under regulation 7—

(a) on the expiry of 90 days' notice in writing at the request of the United Kingdom notified body;

(b) if it appears to him that any condition of the designation is not complied with; or

(c) if in his opinion the United Kingdom notified body ceases to satisfy the notified body criteria.

    (3) Where the Secretary of State is minded to—

(a) vary a designation pursuant to paragraph (1)(b); or

(b) terminate a designation pursuant to paragraph (2)(b) or (c),

     he shall—


(i) give notice in writing to the United Kingdom notified body of his reasons; and

(ii) give that notified body the opportunity to make representations within a period of 21 days from the date of that notice and consider any representations made to him within that period.

    (4) If a designation is terminated under paragraph (2), the Secretary of State may—

(a) give such directions (either to the United Kingdom notified body the subject of the termination or to another United Kingdom notified body) for the purposes of making arrangements for the determination of outstanding applications as he considers appropriate; and

(b) notwithstanding sub-paragraph (a), authorise another United Kingdom notified body to take over the functions of the United Kingdom notified body the subject of the termination in respect of such cases as he may specify.

Fees
     11. —(1) A United Kingdom notified body may charge such fees in connection with, or incidental to, the carrying out of conformity assessment procedures or specific tasks as it may determine.

    (2) The fees referred to in paragraph (1) shall not exceed the following—

(a) the costs incurred or to be incurred by the United Kingdom notified body in performing the relevant function; and

(b) an amount on account of profit which is reasonable in the circumstances having regard to—


(i) the character and extent of the work done or to be done by that notified body on behalf of the applicant; and

(ii) the commercial rate normally charged on account of profit for that work or similar work.

    (3) The power in paragraph (1) includes the power to require the payment of fees or a reasonable estimate of such fees in advance of carrying out the work requested by the applicant.

    (4) Where any fees payable to a United Kingdom notified body pursuant to this regulation remain unpaid 28 days after either the work has been completed or payment of the fees has been requested in writing, whichever is the later, that notified body may by 14 days' notice in writing provide that, unless the fees are paid before the expiry of the notice, the certificate or notification appropriate to the relevant conformity assessment procedure may be suspended until payment of the fees has been received.

Marking and identification requirements
     12. —(1) Where a taximeter is compliant with the essential requirements—

(a) the manufacturer shall affix the CE marking and the M marking to the instrument; and

(b) the notified body which carries out the conformity assessment procedure in respect of that instrument shall affix its identification number to the instrument, or may agree that the manufacturer shall do so on its behalf.

    (2) Any other marking may be affixed to the taximeter provided that the visibility and legibility of the CE marking, the M marking and the identification number of the notified body are not reduced.

    (3) For the purposes of paragraph (1)—

(a) the CE marking means the symbol "CE" which shall be compliant with the requirements of paragraphs 1, 4 and 5 of Schedule 4;

(b) the M marking means the capital letter "M" which shall be compliant with the requirements of paragraphs 2, 4 and 5 of Schedule 4; and

(c) the identification number of the notified body shall be compliant with the requirements of paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of Schedule 4.

Conformity with other directives
     13. —(1) Where a taximeter falls within the scope of other directives which provide for the affixing of the CE marking, the affixing of the CE marking under these Regulations shall indicate that the instrument is also presumed to be compliant with the requirements of those other directives.

    (2) Where paragraph (1) applies, the publication reference of such other directives in the Official Journal of the European Union must be given in the documents, notices or instructions required to accompany the taximeter.

    (4) Where a compliance notice is served by an enforcement authority other than the Secretary of State, it shall, at the same time as it serves that notice, send a copy to the Secretary of State.

Immediate enforcement action
     16. —(1) Where an enforcement authority has reasonable grounds for considering that—

(a) the manufacturer or his authorised representative has failed to comply with a compliance notice;

(b) a taximeter, which is placed on the market or put into use, does not bear one or more of the CE marking, the M marking and the identification number of the notified body which carried out the conformity assessment procedure in respect of that instrument; or

(c) a taximeter which bears the marking and identification requirements referred to in sub-paragraph (b) does not meet the essential requirements when placed on the market, or properly installed and put into use in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions,

the following provisions of this regulation shall have effect.

    (2) The enforcement authority shall serve an enforcement notice on the manufacturer or his authorised representative which shall—

(a) be in writing;

(b) describe the taximeter to which it relates in a manner sufficient to identify that instrument;

(c) specify, with reasons, the respects in which, in the opinion of the enforcement authority, the requirements of these Regulations have not been complied with;

(d) specify the date, being not less than 21 days from the date of the notice, by which the person to whom the notice is given is required to comply with it; and

(e) inform that person of the judicial remedies available to him and of the time limits to which those remedies are subject.

    (3) A notice under paragraph (2) may—

(a) require the taximeter to be withdrawn from the market; or

(b) prohibit or restrict the placing on the market or putting into use of the taximeter; and

(c) specify that unless steps are taken which ensure—


(i) that the taximeter is compliant with the requirements of these Regulations; or

(ii) that the manufacturer or his authorised representative acts as required under sub-paragraph (a) or (b),



any certificate or notification, issued by a notified body in accordance with the relevant conformity assessment procedure applicable to the taximeter that the instrument satisfies the essential requirements, may be withdrawn by that notified body.

    (4) Where an enforcement notice is served by an enforcement authority other than the Secretary of State, it shall, at the same time as it serves that notice, send a copy to the Secretary of State.

    (5) In the case of a certificate or notification referred to in paragraph (3)—

(a) which is granted by a United Kingdom notified body, if the Secretary of State is of the opinion that consideration ought to be given to whether the certificate or notification should be withdrawn, he shall inform that notified body of that fact; and

(b) which is granted under the law of another member State, if the Secretary of State is of the opinion that consideration ought to be given to whether the certificate or notification should be withdrawn, he shall inform the relevant competent authority of that fact.

Review by the Secretary of State
     17. —(1) Where a person is aggrieved by a compliance notice or an enforcement notice served by an enforcement authority other than the Secretary of State, that person may apply to the Secretary of State to review such notice.

    (2) An application under paragraph (1) shall—

(a) be in writing;

(b) state the grounds on which the application is made; and

(c) be sent to the Secretary of State within 21 days from the date of the notice referred to in paragraph (1).

    (3) The Secretary of State may—

(a) hold an inquiry in connection with the notice which is the subject of his review; and

(b) appoint an assessor for the purposes of assisting him with his review.

    (4) The Secretary of State shall, within a reasonable time, inform the aggrieved person and the enforcement authority referred to in paragraph (1) in writing of his decision whether to uphold the notice served by that authority, together with reasons for his decision.

    (5) Where the Secretary of State does not uphold any notice referred to in paragraph (1), he shall give instructions for the withdrawal of that notice.

Unauthorised application of authorised marks
     18. —(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a person shall be guilty of an offence if, in the case of a taximeter, he—

(a) affixes an authorised mark to the instrument otherwise than in accordance with these Regulations;

(b) alters or defaces an authorised mark affixed to the instrument;

(c) removes an authorised mark affixed to the instrument; or

(d) affixes any other marking to the instrument which is likely to deceive any person as to the meaning or form, or both, of an authorised mark.

    (2) Where the alteration or defacement of an authorised mark is occasioned solely—

(a) in the course of the adjustment or repair of a taximeter by a person regularly engaged in the business of repair of such instruments, or by his authorised agent; or

(b) by an enforcement officer in the carrying out of any of his functions under these Regulations,

that person or his authorised agent, or enforcement officer shall not be guilty of an offence under paragraph (1)(b).

    (3) A person shall be guilty of an offence if he places on the market, puts into use or uses for the protection of consumers a taximeter—

(a) which, to his knowledge, bears—


(i) an authorised mark affixed otherwise than in accordance with these Regulations;

(ii) an authorised mark that has been altered or defaced otherwise than in the circumstances referred to in paragraph (2); or

(iii) any marking which is likely to deceive any person as to the meaning or form, or both, of an authorised mark; or



(b) from which, to his knowledge, an authorised mark has been removed.

    (4) A taximeter in respect of which an offence under this regulation has been committed and any implement used in the commissioning of the offence shall be liable to be forfeited.

    (5) A reference in this regulation to other provisions of these Regulations includes a reference to corresponding provisions under the laws of other member States.

    (6) In this regulation, "authorised mark" means the CE marking, the M marking or the identification number of the notified body which carried out the conformity assessment procedure in respect of the taximeter.

Powers of entry and inspection
     19. —(1) Subject to the production if so requested of his credentials, an enforcement officer may for the purposes of these Regulations, at all reasonable times—

(a) inspect and test any taximeter in such manner as he considers appropriate;

(b) inspect and take copies of any document relating to a taximeter; and

(c) enter any premises at which he has reasonable cause to believe there to be a taximeter, not being premises used only as a private dwelling house.

    (2) Subject to the production if so requested of his credentials, an enforcement officer may, at any time, seize and detain—

(a) a taximeter which he has reasonable cause to believe is liable to be forfeited under these Regulations; and

(b) any document or goods which he has reason to believe may be required as evidence in proceedings for an offence under these Regulations.

    (3) If a justice of the peace, on written information on oath—

(a) is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to believe that any taximeter or document as is mentioned in paragraph (1) or (2) is on any premises, or that an offence under these Regulations has been, is being or is about to be committed on any premises; and

(b) is also satisfied either that—


(i) admission to the premises has been or is likely to be refused, and that notice of intention to apply for a warrant has been given to the occupier; or

(ii) an application for admission, or the giving of such a notice would defeat the object of the entry, or that the case is one of urgency, or that the premises are unoccupied or the occupier is temporarily absent,

    (8) Nothing in this regulation shall authorise any person to stop any vehicle on a highway.

    (9) In this regulation, "credentials" means evidence of appointment or designation as an enforcement officer.

Obstruction of enforcement officer
     20. —(1) A person shall be guilty of an offence if he—

(a) wilfully obstructs an enforcement officer in the execution of any of his functions under these Regulations; or

(b) without reasonable cause fails to give that officer any assistance or information which the officer has reasonably required of him for the purpose of the performance by the enforcement authority of its functions under these Regulations.

    (2) A person shall be guilty of an offence if, in giving an enforcement officer such information as is mentioned in paragraph (1)(b), that person gives any information which he knows to be false.

Penalties for offences
     21. A person guilty of an offence under Part 2 or Part 3 shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

Defence of due diligence
     22. —(1) Subject to the following provisions of this regulation, in proceedings against a person for an offence under these Regulations, it shall be a defence for that person to show that he took all reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence to avoid committing the offence.

    (2) Where, in proceedings against a person for such an offence, the defence provided by paragraph (1) involves an allegation that the commission of the offence was due to—

(a) the act or default of another; or

(b) reliance on information given by another,

that person shall not, without the leave of the court, be entitled to rely on the defence, unless, not less than 7 clear days before the hearing of the proceedings (or, in Scotland, the trial diet), he has served a notice in accordance with paragraph (3) on the person bringing the proceedings.

    (3) A notice under this regulation shall give such information identifying or assisting in the identification of the person who committed the act or default or gave the information as is in the possession of the person serving the notice at the time he serves it.

    (4) A person shall not be entitled to rely on the defence provided by paragraph (1) by reason of his reliance on information supplied by another, unless he shows it was reasonable in all the circumstances for him to have relied on the information, having regard in particular to—

(a) the steps which he took, and those which might reasonably have been taken, for the purpose of verifying the information; and

(b) whether he had any reason to disbelieve the information.

Liability of persons other than the principal offender
     23. —(1) Where the commission by a person of an offence under these Regulations is due to the act or default of another person in the course of any business of his, that other person shall be guilty of the offence and may be proceeded against and punished, whether or not proceedings are taken against the first person.

    (2) Where a body corporate commits an offence and it is proved that the offence was committed—

(a) with the consent or connivance of an officer of the body corporate; or

(b) as a result of the negligence of an officer of the body corporate,

the officer, as well as the body corporate, shall be guilty of the offence.

    (3) In paragraph (2), a reference to an officer of a body corporate includes a reference to—

(a) a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate;

(b) a person purporting to act as a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer; and

(c) if the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, a member.

    (4) In this regulation, references to a "body corporate" include references to a partnership in Scotland, and in relation to such partnership, any reference to a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of a body corporate is a reference to a partner.

    (2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), and for the purposes of section 7 of the Interpretation Act 1978[8] (which relates to the service of documents by post) in its application to that paragraph, the proper address of any person on whom a document is to be served in accordance with these Regulations shall be his last known address except that—

(a) in the case of service on a body corporate or its secretary or clerk, it shall be the address of the registered or principal office of the body corporate; and

(b) in the case of service on a partnership or a partner or a person having the control or management of a partnership business, it shall be the principal office of the partnership,

and for the purposes of this paragraph the principal office of a company registered outside the United Kingdom or of a partnership carrying on business outside the United Kingdom is its principal office within the United Kingdom.

Savings for certain privileges
     25. —(1) Nothing in these Regulations shall be taken as requiring a person to produce any documents or records if he would be entitled to refuse to produce those documents or records in any proceedings in any court on the grounds that they are the subject of legal professional privilege or, in Scotland, that they contain a confidential communication made by or to an advocate or solicitor in that capacity, or as authorising a person to take possession of any documents or records which are in the possession of a person who would be so entitled.

    (2) Nothing in these Regulations shall be construed as requiring a person to answer any question or give any information if to do so would incriminate that person or that person's spouse or civil partner.

    (3) Section 14(1) of the Civil Evidence Act 1968[9] (which relates to the privilege against self-incrimination) shall apply to the right conferred by paragraph (2) as it applies to the right described in sub-section (1) of that section; but this paragraph does not extend to Scotland.

Adaptation for Northern Ireland
     26. In their application to Northern Ireland, these Regulations shall have effect subject to Schedule 5.



Signed by authority of the Secretary of State


G. Merron
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Department for Transport

24th August 2006

(a) in relation to the area to which the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869[10] applies, Transport for London;

(b) in relation to any other area in England and Wales, the authority responsible for licensing taxis in that area; and

(c) in relation to Scotland, the district or islands council responsible for licensing taxis in that area;

"climatic environments" means the conditions in which taximeters may be used;

"critical change value" means the value at which the change in the measurement result is considered undesirable;

"cross-over speed" means the speed value found by division of a time tariff value by a distance tariff value;

"direct sales" means a trading transaction where—

(a) the measurement result serves as the basis for the price to pay;

(b) at least one of the parties involved in the transaction related to the measurement is a consumer or any other party requiring a similar level of protection; and

(c) all the parties in the transaction accept the measurement result at that time and place;

"disturbance" means an influence quantity having a value within the limits specified in the appropriate requirement but outside the specified rated operating conditions of the taximeter. An influence quantity is a disturbance if for that influence quantity the rated operating conditions are not specified;

"fare" means the total amount of money due for a trip based on a fixed initial hire fee or the length or the duration of the trip (or a combination of any of these), and does not include a supplement charged for extra services;

"influence quantity" means a quantity that is not the measurand but that affects the result of measurement;

"measurand" means the particular quantity subject to measurement;

"normal calculation mode D (double application of tariff)" means a fare calculation based on simultaneous application of time tariff and distance tariff over the whole trip;

"normal calculation mode S (single application of tariff)" means a fare calculation based on application of the time tariff below the cross-over speed and application of the distance tariff above the cross-over speed;

"operating position" means the different modes in which a taximeter fulfils the different parts of its functioning, and which are distinguished by the following indications—

(a) "For Hire", which is the operating position in which the fare calculation is disabled;

(b) "Hired", which is the operating position in which the fare calculation takes place on the basis of a possible initial charge and a tariff for distance travelled or time of the trip, or both; and

(c) "Stopped", which is the operating position in which the fare due for the trip is indicated and at least the fare calculation based on the time is disabled;

"rated operating conditions" means the values for the measurand and influence quantities making up the normal working conditions of a taximeter; and

"resolution" means the decision making process by which an appropriate licensing authority sets its tariff of fares for its area.

Allowable Errors
     3. —(1) Under rated operating conditions and in the absence of a disturbance, the error of measurement shall not exceed the maximum permissible error (MPE) value as set out in paragraph 17.

    (2) Unless stated otherwise, MPE is expressed as a bilateral value of the deviation from the true measurement value.

    (3) Under rated operating conditions and in the presence of a disturbance, the performance requirement shall be as set out in paragraph 18.

    (4) The manufacturer shall specify the climatic, mechanical and electromagnetic environments in which the taximeter is intended to be used, power supply and other influence quantities likely to affect its accuracy, taking account of the requirements in this Schedule.

(a) Climatic environments—


     The manufacturer shall specify the temperature range. The minimum temperature range is 80°C and shall be within the upper temperature limit of 70°C and the lower temperature limit of -40°C. The manufacturer shall indicate whether the taximeter is designed for condensing or non-condensing humidity as well as the intended location for the instrument, that is open or closed.



(b) Mechanical environments—



(i) M3: This class applies to taximeters used in locations where the level of vibration and shock is high and very high, such as instruments mounted directly on machines or conveyor belts.

(ii) The following influence quantities shall be considered in relation with mechanical environments, namely—


(aa) vibration;

(bb) mechanical shock.



(c) Electromagnetic environments—



(i) E3: This class applies to taximeters supplied by the battery of a vehicle. Such instruments shall comply with the requirements of instruments used in locations with electromagnetic disturbances corresponding to those likely to be found in industrial buildings and the following additional requirements—


(aa) voltage reductions caused by energising the starter-motor circuits of internal combustion engines;

(bb) load dump transients occurring in the event of a discharged battery being disconnected while the engine is running.



(ii) The following influence quantities shall be considered in relation with electromagnetic environments—



(aa) voltage interruptions;

(bb) short voltage reductions;

(cc) voltage transients on supply lines or signal lines, or both;

(dd) electrostatic discharges;

(ee) radio frequency electromagnetic fields;

(ff) conducted radio frequency electromagnetic fields on supply lines or signal lines, or both;

(gg) surges on supply lines or signal lines, or both.

    (5) Other influence quantities to be considered, where appropriate, are—

(a) voltage variation;

(b) any other quantity likely to influence in a significant way the accuracy of the taximeter.

    (6) When carrying out the tests as envisaged in these Regulations, the following paragraphs apply—

(a) The basic rules for testing and the determination of errors are—


(i) the essential requirements specified in sub-paragraphs (1) to (4) shall be verified for each relevant influence quantity. These essential requirements apply when each influence quantity is applied and its effect evaluated separately, all other influence quantities being kept relatively constant at their reference value; and

(ii) the metrological tests shall be carried out during or after the application of the influence quantity, whichever condition corresponds to the normal operational status of the taximeter when that influence quantity is likely to occur.



(b) In relation to ambient humidity—



(i) according to the climatic operating environment in which the taximeter is intended to be used either the damp heat-steady state (non-condensing) or damp heat cyclic (condensing) test may be appropriate; and

(ii) the damp heat cyclic test is appropriate where condensation is important or when penetration of vapour will be accelerated by the effect of breathing. In conditions where non-condensing humidity is a factor the damp-heat steady test is appropriate.

Reproducibility
     4. The application of the same measurand in a different location or by a different user, all other conditions being the same, shall result in the close agreement of successive measurements. The difference between the measurement results shall be small when compared with the MPE.

Repeatability
     5. The application of the same measurand under the same conditions of measurement shall result in the close agreement of successive measurements. The difference between the measurement results shall be small when compared with the MPE.

Discrimination and Sensitivity
     6. A taximeter shall be sufficiently sensitive and the discrimination threshold shall be sufficiently low for the intended measurement task.

Durability
     7. A taximeter shall be designed to maintain an adequate stability of its metrological characteristics over a period of time estimated by the manufacturer, provided that it is properly installed, maintained and used according to the manufacturer's instruction when in the environmental conditions for which it is intended.

Reliability
     8. A taximeter shall be designed to reduce as far as possible the effect of a defect that would lead to an inaccurate measurement result, unless the presence of such a defect is obvious.

Suitability
     9. —(1) A taximeter shall have no feature likely to facilitate fraudulent use, whereas possibilities for unintentional misuse shall be minimal.

    (2) A taximeter shall be suitable for its intended use taking account of the practical working conditions and shall not require unreasonable demands of the user in order to obtain a correct measurement result.

    (3) Where a taximeter is designed for the measurement of values of the measurand that are constant over time, the instrument shall be insensitive to small fluctuations of the value of the measurand, or shall take appropriate action.

    (4) A taximeter shall be robust and its materials of construction shall be suitable for the conditions in which it is intended to be used.

    (5) A taximeter shall be designed so as to allow the control of the measuring tasks after the instrument has been placed on the market and put into use. If necessary, special equipment or software for this control shall be part of the instrument. The test procedure shall be described in the operation manual.

    (6) When a taximeter has associated software which provides other functions besides the measuring function, the software that is critical for the metrological characteristics shall be identifiable and shall not be inadmissibly influenced by the associated software.

Protection against corruption
     10. —(1) The metrological characteristics of a taximeter shall not be influenced in any inadmissible way by the connection to it of another device, by any feature of the connected device itself or by any remote device that communicates with the instrument.

    (2) A hardware component that is critical for metrological characteristics shall be designed so that it can be secured. Security measures foreseen shall provide for evidence of an intervention.

    (3) Software that is critical for metrological characteristics shall be identified as such and shall be secured.

    (4) Software identification shall be easily provided by the taximeter.

    (5) Evidence of a software intervention shall be available for a reasonable period of time.

    (6) Measurement data, software that is critical for measurement characteristics and metrologically important parameters stored or transmitted shall be adequately protected against accidental or intentional corruption.

Information to be borne by and to accompany the taximeter
     11. —(1) A taximeter shall bear the following inscriptions—

(a) manufacturer's mark or name;

(b) information in respect of its accuracy,

plus, when applicable—

(c) information in respect of the conditions of use;

(d) measuring capacity;

(e) measuring range;

(f) identity marking;

(g) number of the EC-type examination certificate or the EC design examination certificate;

(h) information whether or not additional devices providing metrological results comply with these Regulations.

    (2) The taximeter shall be accompanied by information on its operation, unless the simplicity of the instrument makes this unnecessary. Information shall be easily understandable and shall include where relevant—

(a) rated operating conditions;

(b) mechanical and electromagnetic environment classes;

(c) the upper and lower temperature limit, whether condensation is possible or not, open or closed location;

(d) instructions for installation, maintenance, repairs, permissible adjustments;

(e) instructions for correct operation and any special conditions of use;

(f) conditions for compatibility with interfaces or other measuring instruments.

    (3) Groups of identical taximeters used in the same location do not necessarily require individual instruction manuals.

    (4) The scale interval for a measured value shall be in the form 1 x 10ⁿ, 2 x 10ⁿ or 5 x 10ⁿ, where n is any integer or zero. The unit of measurement or its symbol shall be shown close to the numerical value.

    (5) The units of measurement used and their symbols shall be in accordance with the provisions of Community legislation on units of measurement and their symbols.

    (6) All marks and inscriptions required under any requirement shall be clear, non-erasable, unambiguous and non-transferable.

Indication of result
     12. —(1) Indication of the result shall be by means of a display or hard copy.

    (2) The indication of any result shall be clear and unambiguous and accompanied by such marks and inscriptions necessary to inform the user of the significance of the result. Easy reading of the presented result shall be permitted under normal conditions of use. Additional indications may be shown provided they cannot be confused with the metrologically controlled indications.

    (3) In the case of hard copy the print or record shall also be easily legible and non-erasable.

    (4) A measuring instrument for direct sales trading transactions shall be designed to present the measurement result to both parties in the transaction when installed as intended. When critical in case of direct sales, any ticket provided to the consumer by an ancillary device not complying with the appropriate requirements of these Regulations shall bear an appropriate restrictive information.

Further processing of data to conclude the trading transaction
     13. —(1) A taximeter shall record by a durable means the measurement result accompanied by information to identify the particular transaction, when—

(a) the measurement is non-repeatable; and

(b) the taximeter is normally intended for use in the absence of one of the trading parties.

    (2) Additionally, a durable proof of the measurement result and the information to identify the transaction shall be available on request at the time the measurement is concluded.

Conformity evaluation
     14. A taximeter shall be designed so as to allow ready evaluation of its conformity with the appropriate requirements of these Regulations.

Design requirements
     15. —(1) The taximeter shall be designed to calculate the distance and to measure the duration of a trip.

    (2) The taximeter shall be designed to calculate and display the fare, incrementing in steps equal to the resolution fixed by the appropriate licensing authority in the operating position "Hired". The taximeter shall also be designed to display the final value for the trip in the operating position "Stopped".

    (3) A taximeter shall be able to apply the normal calculation modes S and D. It shall be possible to choose between these calculation modes by a secured setting.

    (4) A taximeter shall be able to supply the following data through an appropriate secured interface or interfaces, namely—

(a) the operating position—


(i) "For Hire";

(ii) "Hired"; or

(iii) "Stopped";



(b) the totaliser data according to paragraph 25(1);

(c) the general information—



(i) constant of the distance signal generator;

(ii) date of securing;

(iii) taxi identifier;

(iv) real time; and

(v) identification of the tariff;



(d) the fare information for a trip—



(i) total charged;

(ii) fare;

(iii) calculation of the fare;

(iv) supplement charge;

(v) date;

(vi) start time;

(vii) finish time; and

(viii) distance travelled; and



(e) the tariff or tariffs information, namely the parameters of the tariff or tariffs.

    (5) Where a device is required to be connected to the interface of a taximeter, it shall be possible, by way of a secured setting, to inhibit automatically the operation of the taximeter for reasons of the non-presence or improper functioning of the required device.

    (6) If relevant, it shall be possible to adjust a taximeter for the constant of the distance signal generator to which it is to be connected and to secure the adjustment.

Rated operating conditions
     16. The manufacturer shall specify the rated operating conditions for the instrument, and in particular the limits of the DC power supply for which the instrument has been designed.

Maximum permissible errors (MPEs)
     17. The MPEs, excluding any errors due to the application of a taximeter in a taxi, are—

(a) For the time elapsed: ± 0.1 %

     minimum value of MPE: 0.2s;

(b) For the distance travelled: ± 0.2 %

     minimum value of MPE: 4 m;

(c) For the calculation of the fare: ± 0.1 %

     minimum, including rounding: corresponding to the least significant digit of the fare indication.

Permissible effect of disturbance
     18. The MPE laid down in paragraph 17 shall also be respected in the presence of an electromagnetic disturbance.

Power supply failure
     19. In case of a reduction of the voltage supply to a value below the lower operating limit as specified by the manufacturer, the taximeter shall—

(a) continue to work correctly or resume its correct functioning without loss of data available before the voltage drop if the voltage drop is temporary, that is, due to restarting the engine; and

(b) abort an existing measurement and return to the position "For Hire"if the voltage drop is for a longer period.

Other requirements
     20. The conditions for the compatibility between the taximeter and the distance signal generator shall be specified by the manufacturer of the taximeter.

     21. If there is a supplement charge for an extra service, entered by the driver on manual command, this shall be excluded from the fare displayed. However, in that case a taximeter may display temporarily the value of the fare including the supplementary charge.

     22. If the fare is calculated according to calculation mode D a taximeter may have an additional display mode in which only the total distance and duration of the trip are displayed in real time.

     23. All values displayed for the passenger shall be suitably identified, so that these values as well as their identification shall be clearly readable under daylight and night conditions.

     24. —(1) If the fare to be paid or the measures to be taken against fraudulent use can be affected by the choice of functionality from a pre-programmed setting or by free data setting, it shall be possible to secure the instrument settings and data entered.

    (2) The securing possibilities available in a taximeter shall be such that separate securing of the settings is possible.

    (3) The provisions in paragraph 10(3), (4) and (5) apply also to the tariffs.

     25. —(1) A taximeter shall be fitted with non-resettable totalisers for all of the following values—

(a) the total distance travelled by the taxi;

(b) the total distance travelled when hired;

(c) the total number of hirings;

(d) the total amount of money charged as supplements; and

(e) the total amount of money charged as fare; and

the totalised values shall include the values saved according to paragraph 19 under conditions of loss of power supply.

    (2) If disconnected from power, a taximeter shall allow the totalised values to be stored for one year for the purpose of reading out the values from the taximeter to another medium.

    (3) Adequate measures shall be taken to prevent the display of totalised values from being used to deceive passengers.

     26. Automatic change of tariffs is allowed due to the—

(a) distance of the trip;

(b) duration of the trip;

(c) time of the day;

(d) date;

(e) day of the week.

     27. If properties of the taxi are important for the correctness of the taximeter, the taximeter shall provide means to secure the connection of the taximeter to the taxi in which it is installed.

     28. For the purpose of testing after installation, the taximeter shall be equipped with the possibility to test separately the accuracy of time and distance measurement and the accuracy of the calculation.

     29. A taximeter and its installation instructions specified by the manufacturer shall be such that, if installed according to the manufacturer's instructions, fraudulent alterations of the measurement signal representing the distance travelled are sufficiently excluded.

     30. The general essential requirement dealing with fraudulent use shall be fulfilled in such a way that the interests of the customer, the driver, the driver's employer and the fiscal authorities are protected.

     31. A taximeter shall be designed so that it can respect the MPEs without adjustment during a period of one year of normal use.

     32. The taximeter shall be equipped with a real-time clock by means of which the time of the day and the date are kept, one or both can be used for automatic change of tariffs. The requirements for the real-time clock are—

(a) the timekeeping shall have an accuracy of 0.02 % ;

(b) the correction possibility of the clock shall be not more than 2 minutes per week. Correction for summer and wintertime shall be performed automatically; and

(c) correction, automatic or manually, during a trip shall be prevented.

     33. The values of distance travelled and time elapsed, when displayed or printed in accordance with these Regulations shall be for—

(a) the distance travelled, the units of kilometres or miles, until the date is fixed according to Article 1(b) of Council Directive 80/181/EEC[11], as amended by Council Directive 89/617/EEC[12]; and

(b) the time elapsed, the units of seconds, minutes or hours, as may be suitable, but keeping in mind the necessary resolution and the need to prevent misunderstandings.

     3. In regulation 25(3), the reference to section 14(1) of the Civil Evidence Act 1968 shall be construed as a reference to section 10(1) of the Civil Evidence Act (Northern Ireland) 1971[14].

     4. In Schedule 1, for the definition of "appropriate licensing authority" substitute the following definition—

" "appropriate licensing authority" means the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland.".

[2] S.I. 1975/427.back

[3] OJ No. L135, 30.4.2004, p.1.back

[4] OJ No. L204, 21.7.1998, p.37.back

[5] OJ No. L217, 5.8.1998, p.18.back

[6] The application of Directive 2004/22/EC (OJ No. L135, 30.4.2004, p.1) was extended in 2005 to the European Economic Area by Decision No. 31/205 (OJ No. L198, 28.7.2005, p.20).back

[7] The Public Carriage Office issued the Construction and Licensing of Motor Taxicabs in London: Conditions of Fitness in 2000. (This document is usually referred to as the Metropolitan Conditions of Fitness.) The Metropolitan Conditions of Fitness are made under the London Cab Order 1934 (S.I. 1934/1346), article 35. The relevant amending instruments are S.I. 1985/933, 1990/2003 and 2000/1666. S.I. 1934/1346 was made under the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869 (c. 115), section 6. Article 35 of the London Cab Order 1934 requires the installation of an approved taximeter. The requirements that must be met by an approved taximeter are set out in the Notice to Owners and Manufacturers of Motor Cabs and Taximeters regarding Taximeters to be used on Taxicabs in the Metropolitan Police District and the City of London, which was issued by the Public Carriage Office in July 1997.back

[8] 1978 c. 30.back

[9] 1968 c. 64.back

[10] 1869 c .115; section 2 sets out the areas covered by the Act.back

[11] OJ No. L39, 15.2.1980, p.40.back

[12] OJ No. L357, 7.12.1989, p.28.back

[13] OJ No. L220, 30.8.1998, p.23.back

[14] 1971 c. 36.back