Regulation of taxis and small public service vehicles
Information
A Small Public Service Vehicle (SPSV) is defined as a public service vehicle with seating for up to eight people. Small Public Service Vehicles include taxis, wheelchair accessible taxis, hackney cabs and limousines. The purpose of this document is to explain how these public transport vehicles are regulated and your rights.
What is the difference between a taxi, hackney and a limousine?
- Taxi: small public service vehicle (SPSV), for which a taxi licence has been granted. Taxis may stand for hire at a taxi rank and ply for hire on the street.
- Hackney: a private hire small public service vehicle (SPSV) for which a hackney licence has been granted. Hackney cabs should be pre-booked on a private hire basis and cannot be hailed down in a public place.
- Limousine: a private hire SPSV for which a limousine licence has been granted. A limousine must be suited by its style and condition to be used for ceremonial occasions or for corporate or other prestige purposes. A limousine should be pre-booked on a private hire basis and cannot be hailed down in a public place.
How are taxis and other SPSVs regulated?
The Commission for Taxi Regulation was established in September 2004 under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 and had overall responsibility for regulating all SPSVs.The function of the Commission was to develop and implement rules for the control and operation of SPSVs and their drivers. An Advisory Council was also set up under the 2003 Act to give advice to the Commission on issues regarding SPSVs and their drivers. This group consisted of representatives from the taxi, hackney and limousine industry, local authorities, An Garda Síochána, the tourist industry and disability action groups.
The Commission for Taxi Regulation was dissolved in January 2011 and its primary function taken over by the National Transport Authority under the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009. The Taxi Regulation Directorate of the National Transport Authority is now responsible for the exercise of the functions set out in the Taxi Regulation Act 2003. The Advisory Council is now known as the Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles.
Rules
What does the Taxi Regulation Directorate do?
The duties of the Directorate are:
- To oversee the licensing of all taxis, hackneys and limousines. They process applications, issue and renew licences for SPSVs and their drivers. Tis is done through a network of 37 regional centres operated by SGS Ireland on behalf of the Directorate.
- To manage the Register of Licences as set out under Section 38 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003. This register contains important information on all SPSV vehicles and their drivers including:
- (a) Name and address of licence holder
- (b) Licence number
- (c) Area in which the licence was granted
- (d) Vehicle registration number
- (e) Holder’s driving licence number
- (f) SPSV category
- (g) Date on which the licence was granted
- (h) Transfer of ownership details
- (i) Details of any suspension / revocation of the driver’s licence
- To ensure that drivers comply with the various duties of SPSV drivers as set out in Section 39 of Taxi Regulation Act 2003. These rules cover the correct treatment of passengers, calculating fares and meter usage, licence display, issuing of receipts and adhering to the shortest possible route.
- To ensure that passengers obey the rules regarding the duties of passengers. Under Section 40 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003, passengers of SPSVs are required to comply with certain regulations when travelling in a taxi, hackney or limousine. These rules include not causing damage to the vehicle, not putting the driver at risk and paying the agreed fare.
- To set maximum taxi fares.
- To ensure that SPSVs meet the vehicle standards as set out in SI 190/1963 Road Traffic Regulations (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles), 1963. This is done through the National Car Testing Service.
- To enforce the regulations of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003.
All powers given to the Directorate under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 are fully in place save with the exception of Section 36 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003. That Section provides for the automatic disqualification of a driver from holding a SPSV licence if they are convicted of certain serious criminal offences.
Vehicle standards
New National Vehicle Standards requirements for small public service vehicles were published on 26 November 2007. The new National Vehicle Standards (pdf) came into effect on 1 January 2009.
Where to apply
Further information on the regulation of taxi and small public service vehicles in Ireland is available from the:
National Transport Authority
Taxi Regulation Directorate
Dún Scéine
Harcourt Lane
Dublin 2
Ireland
Tel:(01) 879 8300
Fax:(01) 879 8333
Homepage: http://www.nationaltransport.ie/taxi-and-bus-licensing/taxi/
Email: taxis@nationaltransport.ie
Language
Related Documents
- Charges for taxi, hackney and limousine services
There are rules about how fares for taxi, hackney and limosuine services are charged. - Duties of drivers of Small Public Service Vehicles (SPSVs)
There are rules about the conduct and duties of drivers of taxis, hackneys and limousine drivers. Find out more here. - Duties of passengers of small public service vehicles (SPSV
Passengers must obey certain rules when travelling in taxis, hackney cabs and limousines. Find out what your duties are and in what circumstances a driver may refuse to pick you up.
Contact Us
If you have a question relating to this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0761 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm) or you can visit your local Citizens Information Centre.