Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981

[F1Licensing of drivers of taxisN.I.

79A.—(1) A person shall not drive a taxi when it is standing or plying for hire or carrying passengers for hire unless he is the holder of a taxi driver's licence; that is to say, a licence granted under paragraph (2).

(2) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), taxi drivers' licences may be granted to applicants by the Department on payment of such fee as may be prescribed F2. . . .

(3) The Department shall not grant a taxi driver's licence—

[F3(a)to any person who has not for at least 12 months been authorised to drive a motor car, or is not at the date of the application for a driver's licence so authorised; and]

(b)unless—

(i)the Department is satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold the licence; and

(ii)the applicantF4. . . meets such other requirements as may be prescribed.

[F3(3A) For the purposes of paragraph (3)(a) a person is authorised to drive a motor car if—

(a)he holds a licence granted under Part II (not being a provisional licence) authorising him to drive a motor car, or

(b)he is authorised by virtue of Article 15A(1) to drive in Northern Ireland a motor car.]

(4) Taxi drivers' licences—

(a)shall be granted subject to prescribed conditions;

(b)may be revoked or suspended by the Department in prescribed circumstances;

(c)shall remain in force for such period as may be prescribed if not earlier revoked or suspended; and

(d)shall be generally dealt with in the prescribed manner.

(5) A person who is aggrieved by the Department's refusal to grant, or by the revocation or suspension of, a taxi driver's licence may, after giving notice to the Department of his intention to do so, appeal to a court of summary jurisdiction acting for the petty sessions district in which he resides.

(6) On any such appeal the court may make such order as it thinks fit and the order shall be binding on the Department.

(7) Any person who drives a taxi in contravention of paragraph (1) shall be guilty of an offence under this Order.

(8) In this Article “taxi” means a public service vehicle seating not more than 8 passengers in addition to the driver.]

F3SR 1996/426