Article 24 Requirement for taxi driver’s licence

(1)

A person shall not drive a taxi when it is standing or plying for hire or reward or carrying passengers for hire or reward unless he is the holder of a taxi driver’s licence.

(2)

Any person who drives a taxi in contravention of paragraph (1) is guilty of an offence.

(3)

The taxi operator for or in respect of a taxi driven in contravention of paragraph (1) and the owner of a taxi who permits it to be driven in contravention of paragraph (1) are each guilty of an offence.

(4)

The holder of a taxi driver’s licence shall not drive a taxi when it is standing or plying for hire or reward or carrying passengers for hire or reward unless his taxi driver’s licence authorises him to drive that class of taxi.

(5)

Any person who drives a taxi in contravention of paragraph (4) is guilty of an offence.

(6)

The taxi operator for or in respect of a taxi driven in contravention of paragraph (4) and the owner of a taxi who permits it to be driven in contravention of paragraph (4) are each guilty of an offence.

(7)

It is a defence in proceedings against a taxi operator for an offence under paragraph (3) or (6) for the operator to show that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the taxi being driven in contravention of paragraph (1) or (4) as the case may be.

(8)

A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (2) or (3) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(9)

A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (5) or (6) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.