Part 12Disabled persons: transport
Chapter 1Taxis, etc.
170Assistance dogs in private hire vehicles
1
The operator of a private hire vehicle commits an offence by failing or refusing to accept a booking for the vehicle—
a
if the booking is requested by or on behalf of a disabled person or a person who wishes to be accompanied by a disabled person, and
b
the reason for the failure or refusal is that the disabled person will be accompanied by an assistance dog.
2
The operator commits an offence by making an additional charge for carrying an assistance dog which is accompanying a disabled person.
3
The driver of a private hire vehicle commits an offence by failing or refusing to carry out a booking accepted by the operator—
a
if the booking is made by or on behalf of a disabled person or a person who wishes to be accompanied by a disabled person, and
b
the reason for the failure or refusal is that the disabled person is accompanied by an assistance dog.
4
A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
5
In this section—
“driver” means a person who holds a licence under—
- a
section 13 of the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998 (“the 1998 Act”),
- b
section 51 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 (“the 1976 Act”), or
- c
an equivalent provision of a local enactment;
- a
“licensing authority”, in relation to any area in England and Wales, means the authority responsible for licensing private hire vehicles in that area;
“operator” means a person who holds a licence under—
- a
section 3 of the 1998 Act,
- b
section 55 of the 1976 Act, or
- c
an equivalent provision of a local enactment;
- a
“private hire vehicle” means a vehicle licensed under—
- a
section 6 of the 1998 Act,
- b
section 48 of the 1976 Act, or
- c
an equivalent provision of a local enactment.
- a