Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976

53 Drivers’ licences for hackney carriages and private hire vehicles. E+W

(1) (a) [F1 Subject to section 53A, every] licence granted by a district council under the provisions of this Part of this Act to any person to drive a private hire vehicle shall remain in force for three years from the date of such licence or [F2 for such lesser period, specified in the licence, as the district council think appropriate in the circumstances of the case] .

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of the M1 Public Health Act 1875 and the M2 Town Police Clauses Act 1889, [F3 but subject to section 53A, ] every licence granted by a district council under the provisions of the Act of 1847 to any person to drive a hackney carriage shall remain in force for three years from the date of such licence or [F4 for such lesser period, specified in the licence, as the district council think appropriate in the circumstances of the case] .

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the Act of 1847, a district council may demand and recover for the grant to any person of a licence to drive a hackney carriage, or a private hire vehicle, as the case may be, such a fee as they consider reasonable with a view to recovering the costs of issue and administration and may remit the whole or part of the fee in respect of a private hire vehicle in any case in which they think it appropriate to do so.

(3) The driver of any hackney carriage or of any private hire vehicle licensed by a district council shall at the request of any authorised officer of the council or of any constable produce for inspection his driver’s licence either forthwith or—

(a) in the case of a request by an authorised officer, at the principal offices of the council before the expiration of the period of five days beginning with the day following that on which the request is made;

(b) in the case of a request by a constable, before the expiration of the period aforesaid at any police station which is within the area of the council and is nominated by the driver when the request is made.

(4) If any person without reasonable excuse contravenes the provisions of this section, he shall be guilty of an offence.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 53(1)(a) substituted (1.12.2016) by Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19), s. 94(1), Sch. 5 para. 19(a) (with Sch. 5 para. 54); S.I. 2016/1037, reg. 5(i) (with reg. 6)

F2 Words in s. 53(1)(a) substituted (1.10.2015) by Deregulation Act 2015 (c. 20), ss. 10(2)(a), 115(7); S.I. 2015/994, art. 11(d)

F3 Words in s. 53(1)(b) inserted (1.12.2016) by Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19), s. 94(1), Sch. 5 para. 19(b) (with Sch. 5 para. 54); S.I. 2016/1037, reg. 5(i) (with reg. 6)

F4 Words in s. 53(1)(b) substituted (1.10.2015) by Deregulation Act 2015 (c. 20), ss. 10(2)(b), 115(7); S.I. 2015/994, art. 11(d)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 53: functions of local authority not to be responsibility of an executive of the authority (E.) (16.11.2000) by virtue of S.I. 2000/2853, reg. 2(1), Sch. 1 Table B4

C2 Ss. 48-54 modified (27.11.2009) by The Local Services (Operation by Licensed Hire Cars) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/2863), regs. 1, 4 Table (with reg. 3)

Marginal Citations

M1 1875 c. 55.

M2 1889 c. 14.