Taxi Regulation Act 2003

Regulation of passengers in small public service vehicles.

40.—(1) A passenger or intending passenger in a small public service vehicle shall comply with any reasonable request made to him or her by a driver of a small public service vehicle.

(2) A passenger or intending passenger in a small public service vehicle shall not—

(a) deliberately remove, displace, deface or alter any instrument, sign or notice in the vehicle,

(b) spit in or on or deliberately soil any part of the vehicle,

(c) deliberately leave any syringe (within the meaning of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997 ) or sharp instrument in any part of the vehicle,

(d) carry into such vehicle an animal (other than a guide dog in the company of a visually impaired passenger or, subject to any requirements of regulations under section 34 , a domestic animal in need of urgent veterinary attention) save with the express permission of the driver, which permission may be withdrawn at any time.

(3) A person, or where prior arrangements in relation to payment have been made with another party, that party, who has hired a small public service vehicle shall pay the fare agreed in advance for the hire or, where the maximum fare for the hire is the subject of a maximum fares order, the fare determined in accordance with that order.

(4) A passenger or an intending passenger of a small public service vehicle who contravenes subsection (2) is guilty of an offence.

(5) A person who hires a small public service vehicle and who, without reasonable excuse, does not comply with subsection (3) is guilty of an offence.