59 Qualifications for drivers of hackney carriages.E+W
(1)Notwithstanding anything in the Act of 1847, a district council shall not grant a licence to drive a hackney carriage—
(a)unless they are satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a driver’s licence; or
(b)to any person who has not for at least twelve months been, and is not at the date of the application for a driver’s licence, the holder of a licence granted under [F1Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1972 or Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988](not being a provisional licence) authorising him to drive a motor car.
[F2(1A)For the purpose of satisfying themselves as to whether an applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a driver’s licence, a council may send to the chief officer of police for the police area in which the council is situated—
(a)a copy of that person’s application, and
(b)a request for the chief officer’s observations;
and the chief officer shall respond to the request.]
(2)Any applicant aggrieved by the refusal of a district council to grant a driver’s licence on the ground that he is not a fit and proper person to hold such licence may appeal to a magistrate’s court.
Textual Amendments
F1Words substituted by Road Traffic (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988 (c. 54, SIF 107:1), s. 4, Sch. 3 para. 16(4)
F2S. 59(1A) inserted (1.4.1992) by Road Traffic Act 1991 (c. 40, SIF 107:1), s. 47(1); S.I. 1992/421, art. 2,Sch.