Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Local Services (Operation by Licensed Hire Cars) Regulations 2009 and come into force on 27th November 2009.

Interpretation

2.—(1) In these Regulations—

(a)“the 1976 Act” means the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976(4);

(b)“the 1982 Act” means the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982(5); and

(c)“the 1985 Act” means the Transport Act 1985.

Application

3.  These Regulations apply in relation to a vehicle which is a licensed hire car for the purposes of section 12 of the 1985 Act(6) at any time when that vehicle is being used to provide a local service(7) under a special licence(8).

Prescribed provisions for vehicles licensed under section 48 of the 1976 Act

4.—(1) This regulation applies in relation to a vehicle which is licensed as a private hire vehicle under section 48 of the 1976 Act.

(2) The provisions specified in column 1 of the Table are, to the extent that they are part of the hire car code(9), the prescribed provisions of the hire car code for the purposes of section 12(10) of the 1985 Act.

(3) For the purposes of these Regulations the provisions specified in column 1 are modified in accordance with column 2.

(4) The provisions prescribed apply whether or not the use of the vehicle to provide a local service is within the controlled district for that vehicle.

(5) “controlled district” has the meaning given by section 80 of the 1976 Act(10).

Prescribed provisions for vehicles licensed under section 10 of the 1982 Act

5.—(1) This regulation applies in relation to a vehicle which is licensed as a private hire car under section 10 of the 1982 Act.

(2) The provisions specified in the first column of the Table are, to the extent that they are part of the hire car code, the prescribed provisions of the hire car code for the purposes of section 12(10) of the 1985 Act.

(3) For the purposes of these Regulations the provisions specified in column 1 are modified in accordance with column 2.

Prescribed documents, plates and marks

6.—(1) The holder of a special licence must ensure that the vehicle is not used to provide a local service unless the requirements set out in paragraphs (2) to (4) are complied with.

(2) There must be a notice displayed on the vehicle which—

(a)is clearly legible from the front;

(b)includes the word “BUS” in letters at least 60 millimetres high; and

(c)indicates—

(i)the destination of the vehicle;

(ii)its route; or

(iii)the nature of the service being provided.

(3) A fare table which contains sufficient information to enable a passenger to ascertain without difficulty the fare for the journey being undertaken must be—

(a)displayed inside the vehicle in a manner clearly legible to passengers; or

(b)available in the vehicle for passengers who request it.

(4) The following documents must be carried in the vehicle and be readily available for inspection on request—

(a)a legible copy of the special licence; and

(b)a timetable showing the times during the year when the service will be provided and the proposed times (on the days when the service is to run) of principal points on the route.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

By section 12 of the Transport Act 1985 provision is made for licensed hire cars (vehicles licensed as private hire vehicles under section 48 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 or as private hire cars under section 10 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982) to provide local services.

Regulations 4 and 5 prescribe, with certain modifications, the provisions of the “hire car code” (defined in section 13(3) of the 1985 Act) which apply in relation to a licensed hire car when being used to provide a local service.

Regulation 6 makes provision regarding the display of a notice on the vehicle and the carrying on the vehicle of fare, licensing and timetable information.

An impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of the private, public and voluntary sectors is available from Paul Lawry, Department for Transport, zone 3/11 Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR – email Paul.Lawry@dft.gsi.gov.uk and is annexed to the Explanatory Memorandum that is available alongside the instrument on the OPSI website (www.opsi.gov.uk). A copy of the assessment has been placed in the library of each House of Parliament.