Section 57 Justices empowered to award compensation to drivers or watermen for their loss of time in attending to answer complaints which shall not be substantiated against them.

If any driver of a hackney carriage, . . . F1 shall be summoned or brought before any justice of the peace to answer any complaint or information touching or concerning any offence committed or alleged to have been committed by such driver . . . against the provisions of this Act, and such complaint or information shall afterwards be withdrawn or quashed or dismissed, or if the defendant shall be acquitted of the offence charged against him, it shall be lawful for the said justice, if he shall think fit, to order and award that the complainant or informant shall pay to the said driver . . . such compensation for his loss of time in attending the said justice touching or concerning such complaint or information as to the said justice shall seem reasonable; . . . F2.