The Taxi Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

PART 4 N.I. Equipment

Fire extinguishers N.I.

23.—(1) Every taxi shall be fitted with suitable and efficient fire extinguishing apparatus which is of [F1 the type] specified in Schedule 4.

(2) The apparatus referred to in paragraph (1) shall be—

(a) readily available for use;

(b) clearly marked with the appropriate British Standards Institution Specification number; and

(c) maintained in good and efficient working order.

(3) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a taxi if it carries apparatus for extinguishing fire which would meet the requirements of that paragraph were there substituted—

(a) for a reference in Schedule 4 to any British Standard, a reference to a corresponding standard;

(b) for the reference in Schedule 4 to a test fire rating of 8A or the reference in that Schedule to a test fire rating of [F2 34B], a reference to an equivalent level of performance specified in the corresponding standard; and

(c) for the reference in paragraph (2)(b) to the appropriate British Standards Institution Specification number, a reference to a marking indicating compliance with the corresponding standard.

(4) In this regulation “corresponding standard” in relation to a British Standard means—

(a) a standard or code of practice of a national standards body or equivalent body of an EEA State [F3 or the Republic of Turkey];

(b) any international standard recognised for use as a standard by any EEA State [F3 or the Republic of Turkey]; or

(c) a technical specification or code of practice which, whether mandatory or not, is recognised for use as a standard by a public authority of any EEA State [F3 or the Republic of Turkey],

where the standard or code of practice, international standard or technical specification provides, in relation to fire extinguishers, a level of safety equivalent to that provided by the British Standard and contains a requirement as respect the markings of fire extinguishers equivalent to that provided by the British Standard.

(5) In this regulation—

“EEA State” means a State which is a contracting party to the EEA Agreement; and

“EEA Agreement” means the Agreement on the European Economic Area signed at Oporto on 2^nd May 1992 M1 as adjusted by the Protocol signed at Brussels on 17^th March 1993 M2 .

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in reg. 23(1) substituted (6.11.2017) by The Taxi Licensing (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017/141), regs. 1, 2(2)(a)

F2 Word in reg. 23(3) substituted (6.11.2017) by The Taxi Licensing (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017/141), regs. 1, 2(2)(b)

F3 Words in reg. 23(4) inserted (6.11.2017) by The Taxi Licensing (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017/141), regs. 1, 2(2)(c)

Marginal Citations

M1 Cm 2073; O.J. No. L1, 3.1.94, p.3

M2 Cm 2183

Repair outfit N.I.

24.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (4), a taxi shall be fitted with—

(a) a fully inflated tyre, mounted on a spare rim or wheel, such tyre being suitable for use in accordance with regulation 32(1) of the Construction and Use Regulations (condition and maintenance of tyres);

(b) an efficient lifting jack; and

(c) a wheel brace or similar tool.

(2) Where a vehicle is supplied by the manufacturer with no facility for the carriage of a spare wheel, a suitable post puncture repair kit shall be carried in the taxi.

(3) Paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply to a taxi which is fitted with tyres which are suitable for use in accordance regulation 32(2) of the Construction and Use Regulations.

(4) This regulation shall not apply where an application is in respect of a Class C taxi licence and the taxi is a heavy motor car or motor vehicle with a maximum gross weight exceeding 3500 kilograms.

Roof sign N.I.

25.—(1) Where an application is in respect of a Class A or B taxi licence, the taxi shall be fitted with a roof sign which is mounted on and fixed safely to the roof of the taxi.

(2) The roof sign shall—

(a) be a minimum of 125 millimetres high;

(b) be capable of holding a plate which—

(i) can readily be removed without damage to the roof sign, plate or vehicle component; and

(ii) can be fixed to the nearside front and nearside rear of the roof sign so that it is not projecting higher, lower or longer than the roof sign;

(c) be fitted so as not to cause danger to any person;

(d) be mounted centrally and positioned transversely when viewed from the front of the vehicle;

(e) not overhang the roof or measure less than 750 millimetres across but may occupy the breadth of the roof;

(f) not project more than 250 millimetres above the highest part of the roof;

(g) be illuminated internally during the hours of darkness to show a steady F4 ... light to the front and the rear;

(h) be fused at source against electrical short circuit; and

(i) not cause dazzle or discomfort to other road users.

(3) Where an application is in respect of a Class A taxi licence, the roof sign shall—

(i) display to the front on a yellow background, in clear and legible black letters, the name or trading name of the licensed operator or the word “Taxi”; and

(ii) display to the rear on a yellow background, in clear and legible black letters, a telephone number or the word “Taxi”.

(4) Where an application is in respect of a Class B taxi licence, the roof sign shall—

(a) display to the front on a white background, in clear and legible black letters, the name or trading name of the licensed operator or the word “Taxi”;

(b) display to the rear on a yellow background, in clear and legible black letters, a telephone number or the word “Taxi”; and

(c) display a wheelchair logo which shall be—

(i) coloured black and printed directly onto the roof sign or on another transparent material which can be illuminated from behind; and

(ii) 125 millimetres wide and 125 millimetres tall and be placed at the offside front and offside rear of the roof sign so that it is not projecting higher, lower and longer than the roof sign.

Textual Amendments

F4 Word in reg. 25(2)(g) omitted (31.5.2016) by virtue of The Taxi Licensing (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (S.R. 2016/140), regs. 1, 2(4)

Wheelchair sign N.I.

26.  Where an application is in respect of a Class B taxi licence, a wheelchair sign shall be displayed on the door most likely to be used by a person boarding the taxi in a wheelchair, in the form of that referred to in paragraph 8 of Schedule 1 to the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 M3 (wheelchair accessibility requirements).

Marginal Citations

M3 S.R. 2003 No. 37