The Taxi Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

Regulations 3, 9(2) and 13

[F1 SCHEDULE 1 N.I. Fees for Taxi Licences

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 1 substituted (1.10.2023) by The Taxi Licensing (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 (S.R. 2023/128), regs. 1, 2

Column (1) Matter	Column (2) Fees
Application for a taxi licence	£147.00
Further application for a taxi licence within 21 days	£29.50
New taxi licence, plate or sign to replace one lost, accidentally defaced or destroyed	£10.00]

Regulation 3A

[F2 SCHEDULE 1A N.I. CONDITIONS FOR AUTOMATIC RENEWAL LICENCE

Textual Amendments

F2 Sch. 1A inserted (10.4.2020) by The Taxi Licensing (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (S.R. 2020/64), reg. 1(1), Sch.

The owner or driver of a taxi in respect of which an automatic renewal licence has been granted shall—

(a) comply with the statutory requirements, as defined in regulation 7(5);

(b) ensure, for the duration of the licence, that there is in force in relation to the use of the taxi a policy of insurance or such security as complies with the requirements of Part 8 of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981;

(c) ensure, for the duration of the licence, that the taxi is kept in a roadworthy condition including continued servicing of the vehicle and the carrying out of basic checks such as looking out for brake wear, checking tyres, and ensuring that all lights are working and that oil and windscreen liquid are at correct levels;

(d) ensure that the taxi has not, since its last inspection by the Department—

(i) undergone any modification or alteration, which has reduced its roadworthiness; or

(ii) been significantly altered to the extent that it no longer complies with its M1 certification,

for the purposes of the licence;

(e) ensure, for the duration of the licence, that the taxi—

(i) does not undergo any modification or alteration which would reduce its roadworthiness; or

(ii) will not be significantly altered to the extent that it no longer complies with its M1 certification,

for the purposes of the licence; and

(f) ensure that the plates (in the case of a Class A or B licensed taxi) and the signs (in the case of any class of licensed taxi) most recently issued in respect of the taxi continue to be displayed in accordance with regulation 12 and (in any case) that the automatic renewal licence is retained in the vehicle.]

Regulation 4(2)

SCHEDULE 2 N.I. Items Included in Inspection

1. BRAKING SYSTEMS
(1) Service brake
(a) mechanical condition (b) efficiency (c) balance (d) vacuum pump and compressor (e) antilock braking system
(2) Parking brake
(a) mechanical condition (b) efficiency
2. STEERING AND STEERING WHEEL
(1) Mechanical condition (2) Steering wheel (3) Steering play
3. VISIBILITY
(1) Windscreen wipers (2) Windscreen washers
4. LAMPS, REFLECTORS AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
(1) Main and dipped beam headlamps
(a) condition and operation (b) alignment (c) switches (d) visual efficiency
(2) Side lamps
(a) condition and operation (b) colour and visual efficiency
(3) Stop lamps
(a) condition and operation (b) colour and visual efficiency
(4) Direction-indicator lamps
(a) condition and operation (b) colour and visual efficiency (c) switches (d) flashing frequency
(5) Rear fog lamps
(a) position (b) condition and operation (c) colour and visual efficiency
[F3 (5A) Front fog lights
(a) position (b) condition and operation (c) colour and visual efficiency]
(6) Reflex reflectors — condition and colour
(7) Tell-tales — trafficators
(8) Electrical wiring
(9) Hazard warning signals
(10) Side marker lamps, unless a vehicle constructed solely for the carriage of passengers and their personal effects
(11) End outline marker lamps
[F4 (12) Reversing lamps
(13) Daytime running lamps]
5. AXLES, WHEELS, TYRES SUSPENSION
(1) Axles (2) Wheels and tyres (3) Suspension
6. CHASSIS AND CHASSIS ATTACHMENTS
(1) Chassis or frame attachments
(a) general condition (b) exhaust pipe and silencers (c) fuel tank and pipes
(2) Cab and bodywork
(a) general condition (b) mounting (c) doors and locks (d) floor (e) driver's seat (f) steps and rails (g) vehicle dimensions
7. OTHER EQUIPMENT
(1) Audible warning device (2) Speedometer (3) Supplementary restraint systems (4) Electronic stability control systems (5) Fire extinguisher (6) Taximeter (7) Printing device (8) Taximeter plaque (9) Repair outfit (10) Seatbelts
(11) Wheelchair equipment
8. NUISANCE
(1) Check of exhaust system for leaks (2) Exhaust emissions
9. VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION
(1) Registration number plate (2) Roof sign (where applicable) (3) Wheelchair sign (where applicable)

Textual Amendments

F3 Sch. 2 Item 4(5A) inserted (20.5.2018) by The Taxi Licensing (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2018 (S.R. 2018/90), regs. 1, 2(3)(a)

F4 Sch. 2 Item 4(12)(13) inserted (20.5.2018) by The Taxi Licensing (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2018 (S.R. 2018/90), regs. 1, 2(3)(b)

Regulation 7(5)(f)(i)

SCHEDULE 3 N.I. Wheelchair Facilities – Class B Licensed Taxis

Wheelchair facilities	Specification
Space for a wheelchair	(a) 1200 millimetres measured in longitudinal plane of the vehicle; (b) 700 millimetres measured in the transverse plane of the vehicle; and (c) 1200 millimetres measured vertically from any part of the floor of the wheelchair space.
Wheelchair anchorage points	(a) designed to hold a wheelchair securely in place; (b) either attached to the chassis or to the floor of the taxi; (c) if attached to the floor, shall be fixed to a galvanised plate at least 3 millimetres in gauge of minimum dimensions 200 millimetres by 200 millimetres which must be attached beneath the floor; (d) provide for the safe storage of a wheelchair when not in use, whether folded or otherwise, if carried within the passengers' compartment; and (e) so designed that they do not cause a foreseeable danger to other passengers
Restraints for a wheelchair and its occupant	(a) independent of each other; (b) so designed that they do not cause a foreseeable danger to other passengers; and (c) where the taxi is not an approved M1 vehicle with an integral partition-based restraint system be fitted with— (i) a 4 point tie down system for the wheelchair and a 3 point tie down system for the wheelchair occupant; or (ii) a restraint system that offers an equivalent level of occupant protection for a wheelchair user, as determined by the vehicle examiner.
Boarding ramp, portable ramp or boarding lift	(a) fitted with an adequate device to ensure that it does not slip or tilt when in use; and (b) capable of being stowed safely when not in use.

In this Schedule “restraint” means a belt or other suitable device, which can be attached to a wheelchair or intended to be worn by its occupant and designed to prevent or lessen injury in the event of an accident.

Regulation 23(1)

[F5 SCHEDULE 4 N.I. Fire Extinguishing Apparatus

Textual Amendments

F5 Sch. 4 substituted (6.11.2017) by The Taxi Licensing (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017/141), regs. 1, 2(3)

A fire extinguisher which complies in all respects with the specification for portable fire extinguishers issued by the British Standards Institution numbered BS EN 3-7:2004+A1:2007 and which—

(a) has a minimum test fire rating 8A or 34B;

(b) contains water or foam; and

(c) has a minimum capacity of two litres.]

Regulation 33

SCHEDULE 5 N.I. Certificate of Exemption