Guidance on Applying for Taxi Driver s or Private Hire Car Driver s Licence

Guidance on Applying for

Taxi Driver’s or Private Hire Car Driver’s Licence

Before lodging your application for Taxi Driver’s or Private Hire Car

Driver’s Licence please ensure that you have read the following

guidance.

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Individuals who want to operate as a Taxi Driver or Private Hire Car Driver within the Glasgow City Council boundary can apply for a licence using the attached application form.

A licensed Taxi Driver can operate any Taxi or Private Hire Car licensed by Glasgow City Council. A licensed Private Hire Car Driver can operate any Private Hire Car licensed by Glasgow City Council.

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Both Taxis and Private Hire Cars can be pre-booked through licensed booking offices.

The main difference is that a Taxi (or Hackney Cab) can be ‘hailed’ in the street or from a recognised Taxi Stance; a Private Hire Car can only pick up passengers who have pre-arranged a booking.

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Before you can apply for a Taxi Driver’s or Private Hire Car Driver’s Licence you must meet these minimum requirements

• Be at least 21 years of age; • Be able to work legally in the UK; • Be fit to drive and

• Have held for a period of one year prior to the date your application is lodged either a UK Driving Licence issued by DVLA Swansea or an equivalent European Union Driving Licence

If you are applying for a Taxi Driver Licence you must also have passed the Topographical Test of Knowledge for Taxi Drivers administered by this Council. More information on the Topographical Test can be found on our website:

http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4992

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Depending on your circumstances you can apply for one of three types of application. If you do not currently hold a licence with this Council you can apply for the following:

Grant If you do not currently hold a licence you can make a Grant application. This type of licence lasts for three years. You will not be licensed to operate as a Taxi Driver or Private Hire Car Driver until the licence is granted.

Temporary You can apply for a temporary licence that lasts for a period of no more than 6 weeks. You will not be licensed to operate as a Taxi Driver or Private Hire Car Driver until the licence is granted.

If you lodge a grant application for the relevant licence prior to the expiry of your temporary licence, you can continue to operate beyond the expiry of your temporary licence whilst the grant application is being considered.

If you currently hold a licence with this Council you can apply to renew the licence before it expires.

Renewal Your renewal application must be lodged no later than the expiry date of your current licence. You cannot submit your renewal application more than six months

before the expiry of the licence. As long as your renewal is lodged before the expiry of your current licence you can continue to operate whilst the application is being considered.

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To apply for a Licence you should complete the attached application form and submit it to the Licensing Section with the relevant fee and supporting documents.

AT OUR CITY CENTRE SERVICE DESK

You can submit your application in person at our City Centre Service Desk at:

City Centre Service Desk 45 John Street Glasgow G1 1JE Opening Hours: Monday 9.00am to 4.30pm Tuesday 9.00am to 4.30pm Wednesday 9.00am to 4.30pm Thursday 9.00am to 4.30pm Friday 9.00am to 4.30pm Saturday and Sunday Closed

Public Holidays Closed

We recommend that applications are lodged in person in order to ensure they are correct. Our staff will check your application and help you correct any mistakes. Please note our staff cannot complete the form for you.

You can ask someone to lodge the form on your behalf at the Service Desk; however if the form is amended you will require to initial any changes before the form is accepted.

BY POST

You can submit your application by post to the following address: Licensing Section

Glasgow City Council City Chambers George Square Glasgow G2 1DU

You must provide your original documents with the application – photocopies will not be accepted. We recommend that you send the application by Recorded Delivery/Special Delivery to ensure that it is received.

We do not recommend that you send a renewal application to us by post. If you do, you must ensure that it is lodged with us before the expiry date of your current licence.

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Depending on the type of application various documents need to be submitted alongside the form. All original documentation will be photocopied by the Council on receipt of your application and returned to you.

DRIVING LICENCE (ALL APPLICATIONS)

Your current Driving Licence issued by DVLA must accompany the application.

Photocard Licences

If you have a photocard style Driving Licence you do not require to produce the paper counterpart as, from 8 June 2015, the DVLA has abolished the paper counterpart for photocard licences.

COPY OF CURRENT DRIVING LICENCE RECORD HELD BY DVLA(ALL APPLICATIONS)

From 8 June 2015 your Driving Licence will no longer be updated with details of your road traffic offences, penalty points etc. The DVLA will now only hold this information electronically.

When lodging your application you will need to provide a copy of your current electronic Driving Licence Summary record held by DVLA. You can do this by using the ‘View or Share your Driving Licence Information’ service at:

https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence.

This service allows you to share your Driving Licence information by creating a one page summary of your record which details the following information:

• Your details

• Vehicles you can drive

The DVLA has produced a guide on how to share your information, this can be viewed at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-share-your-driving-licence-information

At stage 5 of the guide you should use the ‘View, print or save your licence information’ link to create and print the single page summary of your record. You do not have to provide the 8-digit ‘Check Code’ that is also created at stage 5 of the guide.

The single page summary of your Driving Licence record must be produced no more than five days prior to the date your application is lodged with the Licensing Section.

Please note that any attempt to falsify or tamper with the Driving Licence record provided to the Licensing Authority will result in your application being deemed incompetent and, if necessary, the matter being referred to Police Scotland.

TWO PASSPORT TYPE PHOTOGRAPHS (ALL APPLICATIONS)

Two identical passport type photographs must be provided with the application form. The photographs must meet the following criteria to be accepted:

• be taken within the last month; • be in colour, not black and white;

• be a close-up of your head and shoulders with you facing forward and looking straight at the camera;

• show your full head, without any face or head covering, unless worn for religious beliefs or medical reasons;

• show you on your own ( there shouldn’t be other people in the photo);

• be clear and in sharp focus, with a clear difference between your face and the background • be taken against a plain cream or plain light grey background

• not show you with red-eye • not be torn, creased, or marked

• be printed on plain white photographic paper • be free from shadows

• be taken with your eyes open and clearly visible (no sunglasses or tinted glasses and no hair across your eyes)

• be free from reflection or glare on your glasses, and the frames must not cover your eyes - if possible, you should remove your glasses

• not have any writing on the front or back (trademarks or photographic printing on the back must not show through)

• be 45 millimetres high x 35 millimetres wide - this is the standard size when you have a passport photo taken in a photo booth or studio (you should not trim a larger photograph) • be professionally printed (photographs printed at home are not acceptable)

EVIDENCE OF RIGHT TO WORK (GRANT APPLICATIONS)

If you are applying for a grant application you must provide evidence of your right to work in the UK. • If you are a British Citizen please provide your current passport with the application. If you do

not have a current passport, then please provide your birth certificate along with either your National Insurance Card or most up to date P60/P45.

• If you are an EU National please provide your passport or National Identity Card with the application.

• If you are not a British Citizen or an EU National, please provide your passport and residence permit confirming your immigration status and right to work in the UK.

CRIMINAL RECORD CHECKS

If you were born outwith the United Kingdom you must provide a Criminal Record Check from your country of origin. You must also provide a Criminal Record Check from any other country in which you have been resident for six months or more.

If you were born in the United Kingdom but have lived in any other countries for six months or more you must provide a Criminal Record Check from those countries.

In all cases, the Criminal Record Checks provided must have been obtained within the six months

prior to submitting the application and be translated into English and verified by the relevant UK

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The current application fees are detailed below; the amount you pay is dependent on the duration. The fee is payable when the application is lodged and is non-refundable.

Temporary 3 Year

Grant of Licence £68 £162

Renewal of Licence £162

The fees given are correct as of 1 April 2014. Fees are reviewed on 1 April each year and may change. Applications lodged in person can be made by Cash, Cheque, Postal Order or Credit/Debit Card. Applications lodged by post can be paid by Cheque or Postal Order only (Do not send cash by post).

Cheque and Card payments will only be accepted from the applicant. Cheques should be made payable to ‘Glasgow City Council’.

A list of the fees and charges levied by the Council’s Licensing Section can be found on our website: http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2996

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A 28 day consultation period begins on receipt of your application. Any person can object to your application at this stage.

During this period your application will be sent to Police Scotland. The Police may object or make a representation to the application if they do not consider you a ‘fit and proper person’ to hold a licence. The Police may also charge you with an offence if you have made a false statement on your application form or failed to declare convictions.

The application may also be passed to the UK Visas and Immigration if we need to confirm your immigration status and/or right to work in the UK.

Once the 28 day consultation period is complete, we will review your application.

If the Council has a concern regarding your fitness to drive, we will normally ask you to undergo a medical examination at this stage. The Council will pay for this examination.

If no adverse comments have been received and there are no other issues with your application, then it will be considered ‘straightforward’ and placed on a list of applications to be granted. We will then contact you, in writing, once the application has been granted.

If there is a problem with the application such as a Police Objection we will refer the application to a meeting of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee for a decision. It this happens you will receive a Recorded Delivery letter requesting your attendance at the meeting and explaining the reason you are being called. Although you are not legally required to attend it is recommended that you do so. We will contact you, in writing, after the meeting to advise you of the Committee’s decision.

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The Council is allowed six months to consider your application but we aim to deal with all applications as soon as possible. It normally takes about 3 to 4 months to deal with most applications.

Applications which are not straightforward (e.g. Police Scotland object to the application) have to be referred to the Licensing and Regulatory Committee and normally take 4 to 6 months to process. This is due to the volume of applications that the Committee can consider at each meeting.

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You will receive a letter advising that your application has been granted. The letter will include your licence and explain any conditions or requirements you are subject to – for example submitting to a medical annually. The letter will explain how you collect your identification badge.

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An applicant wishing to appeal normally requires to first obtain a written Statement of Reasons for the decision. This can be obtained on written request to the Licensing Section within 28 days of the decision. The Council will give written reasons for its decision within 10 days of being requested to do so.

The Council cannot provide guidance on making an appeal; if guidance is required you should consider taking your own independent legal advice or, alternatively, you can contact the Sheriff Clerk at Glasgow Sheriff Court, 1 Carlton Place, Glasgow, G5 9DA.

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Yes. There are standard conditions attached to all Taxi Drivers and Private Hire Car Drivers Licences. A copy of these conditions is provided with this guidance. As a licensed driver you will be expected to comply with every condition. Failure to do so could result in the Council suspending your licence.

In particular you should note that all new drivers must pass an approved Customer Care Training Course within six months of obtaining their licence.

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The Service Desk is often very busy and you should expect to have to queue. It normally takes about 10 to 15 minutes to submit the application form and pay; this includes waiting times.

The peak times for the Service Desk are 10am to 11am and the lunch period of 12 Noon to 2.30pm. If you visit the Service Desk during these hours it may take longer to deal with your application.

As licences expire at the end of each month, the last few working days of the month can be very busy and lengthy queues are likely.

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Yes. There is a voluntary code drafted by the Council with help from Police Scotland, the Council’s Taxi and Private Hire Car Enforcement Unit, the Greater Glasgow Private Hire Association and Glasgow Taxis. The Council requests that the code is observed by all Taxi and Private Hire Car Drivers.

1. All drivers are required to dress smartly and maintain a clean and tidy appearance.

2. If your radio base requires you to wear a uniform or comply with a certain standard of dress, you must do so.

3. If your radio base does not operate a dress code, you are required to dress appropriately; for men, a long or short sleeved shirt and tie is the preferred option, although a long or short sleeved shirt with no tie is acceptable, and for women: tailored slacks or skirt and a long or short sleeved blouse is the preferred option.

4. Denims, shorts, T-shirts, track suits and other casual sports leisure suits are not acceptable, as are sleeveless shirts, blouses or casual polo shirts.

5. You must be clean and presentable at all times.

6. Your hair should be clean and combed, and men with moustaches or beards should ensure that they are kept neat and trimmed.

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No. The fact that you have certain convictions does not prevent you applying nor does it guarantee that you will be refused. Every application is considered on its own merit.

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No. The fact that you have a medical condition or bodily infirmity does not prevent you applying nor does it guarantee that you will be refused.

The Council expects driver of Taxis and Private Hire Cars to be fit to the Group 2 Standards adopted by DVLA. If you have a medical condition or bodily infirmity you must declare this on your application form. You will then be referred for medical examination to assess your fitness to Group 2 Standards; the Council will pay for this medical.

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If you have a medical condition that is aggravated by carrying dogs you can apply for an exemption to this requirement. This exemption may only be sought on medical grounds. If you intend to request this exemption you must contact the Licensing Team prior to submitting the application for further guidance.

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The Council’s Taxi and Private Hire Enforcement Unit aims is to protect the citizens and visitors of Glasgow who utilise Glasgow’s licensed Taxis and Private Hire Cars.

The Unit are responsible for enforcing the conditions attached to the Licences issued by the Council. They will also investigate any complaints made to the Council about Licence Holders. They are authorised to take both remedial and disciplinary action against Licence Holders.

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Your licence ceases to have effect unless you lodge a renewal application on or before the expiry date shown on your licence. This applies even if the expiry date shown on the licence is a weekend or a public holiday such as 31 December. If you find yourself in this situation, ensure you lodge your application, at the latest, on the last working day prior to the licence expiry. A note of our Public Holidays is on display at the Licensing Section’s office or available from the Council’s website.

http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=3741

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Yes. If you have any further questions about the application process the Council’s Licensing Team will be happy to assist you. Please note that whilst the Licensing Team can provide guidance, the team cannot offer you legal advice.

You can contact us in person or by phone, fax or email. City Centre Service Desk

Appendix 1

Conditions attached to a Private Hire Car Driver’s Licence

1. The driver of a private hire car shall at all times, while he is in charge of a private hire car as such, have with him the private hire car driver's licence issued by the Licensing Authority and he shall exhibit such licence on demand to any passenger, police officer or authorised officer of the Licensing Authority. 2. The driver of a private hire car shall at all times, while he is in charge of a private hire car as such, display

the badge issued to him by the Licensing Authority conspicuously on his outer garment so that the writing and any other thing thereon are clearly visible, unless in relation to any particular licence the Licensing Authority determine that the holder of the licence need not display the said badge, and he shall permit any passenger, police officer or authorised officer of the Licensing Authority on demand to inspect the same and note what is contained thereon.

3 The driver of a private hire car shall be bound to fulfil, or cause to be fulfilled, at the time and location specified, a request to hire his private hire car, which he has accepted, unless there be sufficient cause for not fulfilling the request to hire.

4 The driver of a private hire car which has been hired may not under any circumstances pick up or convey another passenger without the consent of the original hirer or passenger(s).

5 The driver of a private hire car shall not at any time convey in the private hire car more than the number of passengers the private hire car is designed to carry. For the purpose of this condition the number of passengers the private hire car is licensed to carry shall be determined by the number of seat spaces provided with safety belts which the vehicle contains (excluding the driver's seat and safety belt). Any child under 2 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.

6 The driver of a private hire car which has been hired shall drive to the destination by the shortest practicable route unless otherwise instructed by the hirer.

7 The driver of a private hire car shall, unless the cost of the journey is regulated by a Licensing Authority fare structure, take steps to ensure that any potential hirer of the private hire car is informed prior to the commencement of the hire which shall be deemed to be when the vehicle is put in motion or such other time as may be agreed by the driver and the potential hirer (a) that the fare is not so regulated and (b) the cost, or the method of calculating the cost, of the proposed journey.

8 The driver of a private hire car shall ensure that a taximeter fitted in the private hire car in his charge shall be operated at all times, within the licensed area, in accordance with any detailed requirements imposed by the Licensing Authority.

9 Subject to condition 10 below the driver of a private hire car shall not refuse to drive a passenger to any place within the licensed area.

10 The driver of a private hire car shall not be required to convey any hirer or passenger who is drunk or otherwise not in a fit and proper condition to be carried or whose condition or clothing is offensive or likely to cause damage to the interior of the private hire car, or who refuses to cease smoking in the private hire car when requested to do so by the driver, or is accompanied by any animal which is likely to damage or soil the interior of the private hire car, or for any other reasonable excuse.

11 The driver of a private hire car, while he is in charge of a private hire car as such, shall not ply for trade. 12 The driver of a private hire car shall not refuse to carry luggage in his private hire car providing that the

said luggage can be accommodated safely within the luggage compartment of the private hire car. 13 The driver of a private hire car shall give such assistance as he is able to give with loading and unloading

luggage when required to do so but he shall not be required to leave the immediate proximity of the private hire car in doing so.

14 The driver of a private hire car shall, after the completion of each journey, search the private hire car for any property which may have been left therein. Any property found by the driver shall, within 24 hours, be returned to the owner of the property if known, or be handed in by the driver to any police station. 15 The driver of a private hire car, while conveying a passenger or passengers for hire or reward, shall be

smoke if requested to do so by a passenger, which request shall not be regarded as sufficient cause for not fulfilling the request to hire referred to in condition 3 hereof.

16 The driver of a private hire car shall not knowingly allow the private hire car in his charge to be used for illegal or immoral purposes, nor shall he permit to be carried in the private hire car in his charge any article of a dirty, filthy or noxious nature or an explosive or dangerous nature, or permit to be carried in the private hire car in his charge any person who has vermin on his person.

17 The driver of a private hire car shall ensure that the private hire car in his charge, including all body work, upholstery and fittings, is in a safe and serviceable condition and that it is kept in a clean condition both internally and, subject to the prevailing road conditions, externally.

18 The driver of a private hire car who changes his address shall within 14 days thereafter give notice thereof to the Licensing Authority and shall produce his licence to the Legal Manager (Licensing) of the City of Glasgow Council who shall endorse thereon the particulars of such change of address.

19 The driver of a private hire car who ceases to act or be employed as such for any part of the unexpired period of his licence or whose licence has expired shall, within 3 months thereafter, give notice thereof to the Licensing Authority and surrender his licence and his means of identification to the Legal Manager (Licensing) of the City of Glasgow Council.

20 If during the currency of this licence, the holder develops any medical condition which may affect their ability to hold a licence in terms of Group 2 Standards of the Medical Aspects of Fitness to Drive booklet issued by the Medical Commission on Accident Prevention, they shall forthwith notify the Licensing Authority.

21 If during the currency of the licence, the holder is convicted of any offence, they shall, within 28 days, provide full details of such convictions to the Licensing Authority.

22 A private hire car driver who is driving or otherwise has charge of a private hire car which has been hired (a) by or for a disabled person who is accompanied by a guide dog, a hearing dog or an assistance dog of that person; or (b) by a person who wishes such a disabled person to accompany that person in the private hire car, shall carry the disabled person’s dog and allow it to remain with the disabled person and shall not make any additional charge for doing so.

Appendix 2

Conditions attached to a Taxi Driver’s Licence

1 The driver of a taxi shall at all times, while he is in charge of a taxi as such, have with him the taxi driver's licence issued by the Licensing Authority and he shall exhibit such licence on demand to any passenger, police officer or authorised officer of the Licensing Authority.

2 The driver of a taxi shall at all times, while he is in charge of a taxi as such, display the badge issued to him by the Licensing Authority conspicuously on his outer garment so that the writing and any other thing thereon are clearly visible and he shall permit any passenger, police officer or authorised officer of the Licensing Authority, on demand, to inspect the same and note what is contained thereon.

3 The driver of a taxi shall be bound to fulfil, or cause to be fulfilled, at the time and location specified, a request to hire his taxi which he has accepted, unless there be sufficient cause for not so fulfilling the request to hire.

4 The driver of a taxi which has been hired may not under any circumstances pick up or convey another passenger without the consent of the original hirer or passenger(s).

5 The maximum number of passengers conveyed in a taxi at any one time shall not exceed the number of passengers the taxi is licensed to carry.

6 The driver of a taxi which has been hired shall drive to the destination by the shortest practicable route unless otherwise instructed by the hirer.

7 The driver of a taxi shall, unless the cost of the journey is regulated by a Licensing Authority fare structure, take steps to ensure that any potential hirer of the taxi is informed prior to the commencement of the hire which shall be deemed to be when the vehicle is put in motion or such other time as may be agreed to by the driver and the potential hirer (a) that the fare is not so regulated and (b) the cost, or the method of calculating the cost, of the proposed journey.

8 The driver of a taxi shall ensure that a taximeter fitted in the taxi in his charge shall be operated at all times, within the licensed area, in accordance with any detailed requirements imposed by the Licensing Authority.

9 Subject to condition 10 below, the driver of a taxi shall not refuse to drive a passenger to any place within the licensed area.

10 The driver of a taxi shall not be required to convey any hirer or passenger who is drunk or otherwise not in a fit and proper condition to be carried or whose condition or clothing is offensive or likely to cause damage to the interior of the taxi, or who refuses to cease smoking in the taxi when requested to do so by the driver, or is accompanied by any animal which is likely to damage or soil the interior of the taxi, or for any other reasonable excuse.

11 The driver of a taxi shall not refuse to carry luggage in his taxi providing that the said luggage can be accommodated safely within the luggage compartment of the taxi.

12 The driver of a taxi shall give such assistance as he is able to give with loading and unloading luggage when required to do so but he shall not be required to leave the immediate proximity of the taxi in doing so.

13 The driver of a taxi shall, after the completion of each journey, search the taxi for any property which may have been left therein. Any property found by the driver shall, within 24 hours, be returned to the owner of the property if known, or be handed in by the driver to any police station.

14 The driver of a taxi, while conveying a passenger or passengers for hire or reward, shall be clean and tidy in his person and clothing, shall conduct himself in a proper and civil manner and shall not smoke if requested not to do so by a passenger, which request shall not be regarded as sufficient cause for not fulfilling the request to hire referred to in condition 3 hereof.

16 The driver of a taxi shall ensure that the taxi in his charge, including all body work, upholstery and fittings, is in a safe and serviceable condition and that it is kept in a clean condition both internally and, subject to prevailing road conditions, externally.

17 Unless the Licensing Authority makes specific arrangements for particular stances, when a taxi is driven off a stance, the driver of the taxi immediately behind shall draw up his vehicle to take the place vacated, and the taxi drivers on the stance behind shall draw up their vehicles in a like manner.

18 The driver of a taxi, when the taxi is hired or standing for hire, shall either sit in the driving seat of the taxi or stand in the immediate proximity thereto except during any period he may be absent to announce the arrival of his taxi to the hirer or when assisting the hirer with luggage to or from the taxi or for any other necessary purpose.

19 The driver of a taxi who changes his address shall within 14 days thereafter give notice thereof to the Licensing Authority and shall produce his licence to the Legal Manager (Licensing) of the City of Glasgow Council who shall endorse thereon the particulars of such change of address.

20 The driver of a taxi who ceases to act or be employed as such for any part of the unexpired period of his licence or whose licence has expired shall, within 3 months thereafter, give notice thereof to the Licensing Authority and surrender his licence and his means of identification to the Legal Manager (Licensing) of the City of Glasgow Council.

21 If during the currency of this licence, the holder develops any medical condition which may affect their ability to hold a licence in terms of Group 2 Standards of the Medical Aspects of Fitness to Drive booklet issued by the Medical Commission on Accident Prevention, they shall forthwith notify the Licensing Authority.

22 If during the currency of the licence, the holder is convicted of any offence, they shall, within 28 days, provide full details of such convictions to the Licensing Authority.

23 A taxi driver who is driving or otherwise has charge of a taxi which has been hired (a) by or for a disabled person who is accompanied by a guide dog, a hearing dog or an assistance dog of that person; or (b) by a person who wishes such a disabled person to accompany that person in the taxi, shall carry the disabled person’s dog and allow it to remain with the disabled person and shall not make any additional charge for doing so.