Article 4 Operator’s licences
Any person may apply to the Department for an operator’s licence.
An application under this Article shall state the address, which shall be in Northern Ireland, of any premises which the applicant proposes to use as an operating centre.
An operator’s licence may be granted in respect of the operation of such different types of taxi service as may be prescribed.
The Department shall grant an operator’s licence to the applicant if it is satisfied that—
the applicant—
is a fit and proper person to hold an operator’s licence; and
meets any further requirements that may be prescribed; and
any further requirements that may be prescribed (which may include requirements relating to operating centres) are met.
An operator’s licence shall be granted subject to such conditions as may be prescribed and such other conditions as the Department may think fit (including, without prejudice to the generality of this paragraph, conditions specifying the maximum number of taxis or the maximum or minimum number or percentage of taxis of different classes or different classes of use for or in respect of which a taxi operator may operate a taxi service at any one time).
An operator’s licence shall—
specify the address of any premises in Northern Ireland which the licensed operator may use as an operating centre;
be in such form and contain such particulars as the Department may think fit.
An operator’s licence shall be granted for five years or such shorter period as may be prescribed or such shorter period as the Department may consider appropriate in the circumstances of the case.
An applicant for an operator’s licence may appeal to a court of summary jurisdiction against—
a decision not to grant such a licence;
a decision not to specify an address proposed in the application as an operating centre;
a decision to grant such a licence in respect of the operation of a particular type of taxi service; or
any condition (other than a prescribed condition) to which the licence is subject.