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- Point in Time (05/11/1993)
- Original (As enacted)
Version Superseded: 27/09/1999
Point in time view as at 05/11/1993.
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An Act for the better Regulation of Metropolitan Stage and Hackney Carriages, and for prohibiting the Use of advertising Vehicles.
[28th June 1853]
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Short title “The London Hackney Carriage Act 1853” given by Short Titles Act 1896 (c. 14), Sch. 1
C2Act repealed as to public service vehicles by Road Traffic Act 1930 (c. 43), Sch. 5
C3Functions of Commissioners of Police of the Metropolis as to licensing of hackney carriages now exercisable by an Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis: Metropolitan Police Act 1856 (c. 2, SIF 95), ss. 1, 5, 7, Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869 (c. 115, SIF 107:1), ss. 6, 8, 11, S. R. & O. 1934/1346 (Rev. XIV, p. 795: 1934 I, p. 1221) and S. I. 1955/1853 (1955 I, p. 1143)
C4London Hackney Carriages Act 1843 and London Hackney Carriages Act 1850 cited or referred to by their short titles under authority of Statute Law Revision Act 1893 (c. 14), s. 3
Textual Amendments
F1Ss. 1, 3 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1892 (c. 19)
It shall be lawful for the said Commissioners of Police to cause an inspection to be made, as often as they deem it necessary, of all . . . F2 hackney carriages, and of the horse or horses used in drawing the same, within the limits of this Act; and if any such carriage, or the horse or horses used in drawing the same, shall at any time be in a condition unfit for public use, the said commissioners shall give notice in writing accordingly to the proprietor thereof, which notice shall be personally served on such proprietor, or delivered at his usual place of residence; and if, after notice as aforesaid, any proprietor shall use or let to hire such carriage as a . . . F2 hackney carriage, or use or let to hire such horse or horses whilst in a condition unfit for public use, the said commissioners shall have power to suspend, for such time as they may deem proper, the licence of the proprietor of such carriage . . . F3.
Textual Amendments
F2Words repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1976 (c. 16), Sch. 1 Pt. XVII
F3Words repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1892 (c. 19)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C5S. 2 repealed as to tramcars and trolley vehicles by Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869 (c. 115, SIF 107:1), s. 15 and S.R. & O. 1933/629 (Rev. XX, p. 441: 1933, p. 1772)
C6 “the said Commissioners of Police” means the Commissioners of Police of the Metropolis
Textual Amendments
F4Ss. 1, 3 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1892 (c. 19)
Textual Amendments
F5Ss. 4–6 repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1973 (c. 39), Sch. 1 Pt. VI
The driver of every hackney carriage which shall ply for hire at any place within the limits of this Act shall (unless such driver have a reasonable excuse, to be allowed by the justice before whom the matter shall be brought in question,) drive such hackney carriage to any place to which he shall be required by the hirer thereof to drive the same, not exceeding six miles from the place where the same shall have been hired, or for any time not exceeding one hour from the time when hired: . . . F6.
Textual Amendments
F6Proviso repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1973 (c. 39), Sch. 1 Pt. VI
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C7Power to amend s. 7 given by London Cab Act 1968 (c. 7, SIF 107:1), s. 2(1)
C8S. 7 amended by S. I. 1972/1047
C9S. 7 modified by S.I. 1986/1387 art.4(2)
Textual Amendments
F7Ss. 8, 22 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1892 (c. 19)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F8 the driver of any such hackney carriage shall, if required by the hirer thereof, carry in and by such carriage the number of persons painted or marked thereon, or any less number of persons.
Textual Amendments
F8Words repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1892 (c. 19)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C10S. 9 repealed so far as it relates to tramcars or trolley vehicles by Transport Charges &c. (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1954 (c. 64), s. 14(1), Sch. 2 Pt. IV
C11S. 9 modified by S.I. 1986/1387 art. 4(2)
The driver of every hackney carriage within the limits of this Act shall carry in or upon such carriage a reasonable quantity of luggage for every person hiring such carriage . . . F9.
Textual Amendments
F9Words repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1973 (c. 39), Sch. 1 Pt. VI
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C12S. 10 modified by S.I. 1987/1387 art. 4(2)
Textual Amendments
F10Ss. 11, 14, 15 repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1976 (c. 16), Sch. 1 Pt. XVII
Textual Amendments
F13Ss. 11, 14, 15 repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1976 (c. 16), Sch. 1 Pt. XVII
It shall not be lawful for any person to carry about on any carriage or on horseback or on foot, in any thoroughfare or public place within the limits of this Act, to the obstruction or annoyance of the inhabitants or passengers, any picture, placard, notice, or advertisement, whether written, printed, or painted upon or posted or attached to any part of such carriage, or on any board, or otherwise.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F14 the driver of any hackney carriage, who shall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F14 commit any of the following offences within the limits of this Act, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding [F15level 3 on the standard scale], for each offence, . . . F16.
(1)Every driver of a hackney carriage who shall demand or take more than the proper fare . . . F17, or who shall refuse to admit and carry in his carriage the number of persons painted or marked on such carriage or specified in the certificate granted by the said Commissioners of Police in respect of such carriage, or who shall refuse to carry by his carriage a reasonable quantity of luggage for any person hiring or intending to hire such carriage:
(2)Every driver of a hackney carriage who shall refuse to drive such carriage to any place within the limits of this Act, not exceeding six miles, to which he shall be required to drive any person hiring or intending to hire such carriage, or who shall refuse to drive any such carriage for any time not exceeding one hour, if so required by any person hiring or intending to hire such carriage, or who shall not drive the same at a reasonable and proper speed, not less than six miles an hour, except in cases of unavoidable delay, or when required by the hirer thereof to drive at any slower pace:
(3)Every driver of a hackney carriage who shall ply for hire with any carriage or horse which shall be at the time unfit for public use . . . F18.
Textual Amendments
F14Words repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1976 (c. 16), Sch. 1 Pt. XVII
F15Words substituted by virtue of Criminal Justice Act 1967 (c. 80, SIF 39:1), Sch. 3 Pt. I and Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), ss. 39, 46, Sch. 3
F16Words repealed by Summary Jurisdiction Act 1884 (c. 43), Sch. and Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1976 (c. 16), Sch. 1 Pt. XVII
F17Words repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1973 (c. 39), Sch. 1 Pt. VI
F18Words repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1892 (c. 19)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C13Unreliable marginal note.
C14S. 17(1) modified by S.I.1986/1387 art. 4(2)
C15S. 17(2) restricted by S. R. & O. 1934/1346 (Rev. XIV, p. 795: 1934 I, p. 1236), art. 31
C16Power to amend s. 17(2) given by London Cab Act 1968 (c. 7), s. 2(1); amended by S. I. 1972/1047
It shall be lawful for any one of the police magistrates at any of the Metropolitan Police Courts to hear and determine all offences against the provisions of this Act, and also all disputes or causes of complaint that may arise out of the same; or if the offence, dispute, or cause of complaint shall be committed or occur in any place not comprised within the limits of a police court district, the same may be heard and determined by two justices of the peace for the county; or if the offence, dispute, or cause of complaint shall be committed or occur within the City of London, the same shall be heard and determined by one justice of the peace for the said city, or by a metropolitan police magistrate sitting at the police court in Bow Street . . . F19.
Textual Amendments
F19Words repealed by London Cab Act 1896 (c. 27), s. 2
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C17S. 18 amended (E.W.)(1.4.1996) by S.I. 1996/674, reg. 2, Sch. Pt. II para. 5(2)(i)
S. 18 amended (1.4.1996) by S.I. 1996/675, regs. 2, Sch. Pt. II para. 7(2)(i)
For every offence against the provisions of this Act, for which no special penalty is herein-before appointed, the offender shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding [F20level 1 on the standard scale], . . . F21
Textual Amendments
F20Words substituted by virtue of Criminal Justice Act 1967 (c. 80, SIF 39:1), Sch. 3 Pt. I and Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), ss. 38, 46
F21Words repealed by Summary Jurisdiction Act 1884 (c. 43), Sch. and Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1976 (c. 16), Sch. 1 Pt. XVII
All things herein authorized to be done by the said Commissioners of Police of the Metropolis shall be done by such one of the said commissioners as one of her Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State shall from time to time be pleased to appoint; and the words “the limits of this Act” shall include every part of the Metropolitan Police District and City of London.
This Act shall be construed as one Act with the M1London Hackney Carriages Act, 1843, and the M2London Hackney Carriages Act 1850; and all the provisions of the said Acts, except so far as is herein otherwise provided, shall extend to this Act, and to all things done in execution of this Act.
Textual Amendments
F22Ss. 8, 22 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1892 (c. 19)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F23Sch. (A.) repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1973 (c. 39), Sch. 1 Pt. VI
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F24Schs. (B.), (C.) repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1892 (c. 19)
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