Part 12Disabled persons: transport

Chapter 1Taxis, etc.

173Interpretation

(1)

In this Chapter—

“accessibility requirements” has the meaning given in section 167(5);

“assistance dog” means—

(a)

a dog which has been trained to guide a blind person;

(b)

a dog which has been trained to assist a deaf person;

(c)

a dog which has been trained by a prescribed charity to assist a disabled person who has a disability that consists of epilepsy or otherwise affects the person's mobility, manual dexterity, physical co-ordination or ability to lift, carry or otherwise move everyday objects;

(d)

a dog of a prescribed category which has been trained to assist a disabled person who has a disability (other than one falling within paragraph (c)) of a prescribed kind;

F1“operator”, in relation to a private hire vehicle—

(a)

means a person who holds a licence under—

  1. (i)

    section 55 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976,

  2. (ii)

    section 3 of the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998, or

  3. (iii)

    a provision of a local enactment equivalent to the provision mentioned in sub-paragraph (i) or (ii); and

(b)

in section 167A, also includes a person who holds a licence under Part I of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 in relation to the use of premises for the carrying on of a business which consists to any extent of the taking of bookings, by any means of communication, from members of the public for the hire of a private hire car licenced under section 10 of that Act;

“private hire vehicle”—

(a)

means a vehicle licensed under—

  1. (i)

    section 48 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976,

  2. (ii)

    section 7 of the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998, or

  3. (iii)

    a provision of a local enactment equivalent to the provision mentioned in sub-paragraph (i) or (ii); and

(b)

in sections 164A to 167A, also includes a private hire car licensed under section 10 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982;

“taxi”—

(a)

means a vehicle which is licensed under section 37 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 or section 6 of the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869, and

(b)

in sections 162 and F2164A to 167, also includes a taxi licensed under section 10 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982,

but does not include a vehicle drawn by a horse or other animal;

“taxi accessibility regulations” has the meaning given by section 160(1).

(2)

A power to make regulations under paragraph (c) or (d) of the definition of “assistance dog” in subsection (1) is exercisable by the Secretary of State.