S.I. No. 280/2007 - Taxi Regulation Act 2003 (Small Public Service Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations 2007

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 15th June, 2007.

The Commission for Taxi Regulation, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by sections 34 and 39 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 (No. 25 of 2003), and with regard to any amendment or revocation of any regulation made under section 82 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 (No. 24 of 1961) with the consent of the Minister for Transport, hereby makes the following regulations:

1.

2.

“Commission” means the Commission for Taxi Regulation;

“Regulations of 1995” means the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations 1995 ( S.I. No. 136 of 1995 ).

• (2) The terms defined by the Road Traffic Act 1961 and by the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations 1963 to 2002 shall have the same meanings in these Regulations that are assigned to them by that Act and those statutory instruments.

3.

• (2) A taxi sign shall be lit up during lighting-up hours except when the vehicle is on hire or is standing for hire at an appointed stand.

• (3) A taxi or a wheelchair accessible taxi shall not be operated in a taximeter area unless a taxi sign is displayed on the roof of the vehicle in accordance with these Regulations and the Eight Schedule to the Regulations of 1995.

• (4) A taxi sign shall at no time be so defaced, obscured or altered in such a manner that the word “TAXI” or “TACSAÍ” or the licence number are rendered illegible or partly illegible.

• (5) Whenever a taxi licence or a wheelchair accessible taxi licence is revoked or suspended the owner of the vehicle shall from the date of the revocation or suspension cease to display the taxi sign and within seven days deliver the licence granted in respect of the vehicle to the Commission.

• (6) Whenever a taxi licence or a wheelchair accessible taxi licence ceases to be in force and an application for the renewal of the licence is not made, or an application for the renewal of the licence is refused, the owner of the vehicle shall immediately upon cessation of the licence or upon receipt of notification from the Commission of the refusal of the application for the renewal of the licence cease to display the taxi sign.

4.

• (a) in the case of a single hire, give to the person who hired the taxi or wheelchair accessible taxi a receipt containing the information in paragraph (2) and which has been produced automatically from the taximeter, or

• (b) in the case of a shared hire, give to each person who hired the taxi or wheelchair accessible taxi a receipt containing the information in paragraph (2).

• (2) A receipt to which paragraph (1) refers shall display the following minimum information:

• (a) the full fare (including all extras which shall be indicated separately) chargeable for the hire,

• (b) the date, starting time and finishing time of the hire,

• (c) the total distance travelled in kilometres,

• (d) the licence number of the taxi or wheelchair accessible taxi,

• (e) the unique identification mark (registration number) of the vehicle,

• (f) the receipt number (in sequential order),

• (g) a space at the foot of the receipt headed “Tips/Discounts/Tolls”, and

• (h) such other relevant information as may be determined by the Commission.

5.

• (2) The identification card referred to in paragraph (1) shall contain the following information:

• (a) the name of the driver;

• (b) a photograph of the driver;

• (c) the driver’s Small Public Service Vehicle Driver Licence Number;

• (d) the date of expiry of the driver’s Small Public Service Vehicle Driver Licence;

• (e) on the reverse side of the card, displayed in a manner that is clearly visible from outside the vehicle, or as otherwise determined by the Commission, the name of the county in respect of which the driver licence to drive a small public service vehicle issued;

• (f) such security features as may be determined by the Commission;

• (g) such other relevant information as the Commission may from time to time determine.

6.

7.

• (2) A taximeter fitted to a taxi or wheelchair accessible taxi shall—

• (a) be securely attached to the vehicle so that the taximeter cannot be detached or be caused to become inaccurate by vibration of the engine or by the motion of the vehicle,

• (b) be in such position on the vehicle as to enable a passenger inside the vehicle easily to see and read the taximeter,

• (c) have the transmitter cable connecting the taximeter with the wheels or the driving mechanism of the vehicle so situated and so protected by an outer cover as to render damage to the cable unlikely,

• (d) be fitted with a device capable of printing automatically a receipt showing the fare charged for a hire, and

• (e) be in good order, repair and condition and subject to the terms of the Metrology Act 1996 (No. 27 of 1996) have affixed the mark or marks signifying conformity with that Act.

8.

• (a) Regulations 28, 29(1), 29(2), 33(3), 33(6), 33(7) and 35 of the Regulations of 1995,

• (b) Regulations 8(4) and 10(3) of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1999 ( S.I. No. 316 of 1999 ), and

• (c) Regulations 14(1) and 15 of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2000 ( S.I. No. 367 of 2000 ).

Given under the seal of the Commission for Taxi Regulation,

12 June 2007

Commissioner for Taxi Regulation

The Minister for Transport consents to the making of the foregoing regulations.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

12 June 2007

MARTIN CULLEN

Minister for Transport

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

(This note is not part of the instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

These Regulations recite certain contraventions of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) regulatory code. By virtue of sections 34 (10) and 39 (4) of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 , each of these contraventions constitutes an offence. These include:

• • Roof sign requirements for taxis and wheelchair accessible taxis;

• • Driver information to be displayed in small public service vehicles;

• • Obligation to provide automatic receipt in taxi and wheelchair accessible taxi;

• • Prohibition on unauthorised signs or advertisements in hackneys or limousines;

• • Taximeter requirements.