Licensing Public-service Vehicles
Page 72
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
IT is the intention of the Minister of Transport to bring the requirements of the Road Tiaffic Act as to public-service-vehicle licences, etc., into operation on April 1st, and to repeal, as from that date, the Town Police Clauses Acts and others dealing with hackney and stage carriages, so far as they relate to public-service vehicles, but vehicles adapted to carry fewer than eight passengers and hired as a whole are not public-service vehicles and will remain under the control of the local licensing authority.
Until April 1st the present provisions will remain in force, and the local licensing authorities should continue to deal with applications for licences to ply for hire, drive or act as conductor of motorbuses and motor coaches. It is not necessary that licences so granted should be expressed to terminate at March 31st. They may be issued for such periods as has been customary.
Existing licence holders will, subject to certain conditions, carry on after April 1st until the Commissioners are able to deal with their applications. The following action should be taken without delay by persons requiring licences from the Commissioners :— Drivers and Conductors.
Provinces.—Any driver or conductor who does not hold a licence as such should apply for a licence to become effective on April let.
Anyone licensed by an existing authority as driver or conductor must ensure that his licence ,(by renewal if B44 necessary) covers the period up to March 31st. He must apply before that date for a licence under the new Act. ele will then be able to continue to work until the Commissioners have dealt with his application.
Any person wishing to take advantage of relaxation as to age for those regularly employed on these duties during the last six months of 1929, must obtain licences from the Commissioners.
London (including the Metropolitan Police District and City of London).-Drivers and conductors licensed under the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act, 1869, will not, during the currency of the licence,, require to obtain another under the Act Any other person who wishes to act as driver or conductor must apply at once to the Commissioner of Police for a temporary permit. If this be done before March 1st, he may act until the application is dealt with ; if made after March let, he will not be able to do so until a permit is received.
Owners of Public-service Vehicles.
Provitices.—For vehicles not licensed to ply for hire, application must be made immediately to the appropriate Traffic Commissioner for a public-service-vehicle licence (with necessary preliminary certificate of fitness to become effective on April 1st). With existing licences, these must cover period up to March 31st (if necessary by renewal). Owner must apply to the Commissioners before March 15th for licence under the new Act, but can use vehicle.
London (including Metropolitan Police District and City of London).— Vehicles licensed under the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act, 1869, may be used during the currency of licence ; otherwise, owner must apply to Commissioner of Police for temporary consent. If application made before March 1st, he may use vehicle; if made after, he must receive consent first.
Operators of Passenger Services.
Application for grant or backing of licences to continue existing service, with or without modifications, must be made to the Commissioners before March 15th. Operator may continue a service (with seasonal variations according to those in 1930) until application has been dealt with.
There is a proviso similar to that previously mentioned as regards the running of such a vehicle before licence is obtained.
Road-service licences must be obtained before any new service can be inaugurated and before any modifications and extensions can be made in existing services, Application forms for licences, certificates of fitness, road-service licences and backings are now available at the offices of the Traffic Commissioners. Those for drivers' and conductors' licences will be available shortly.
Special attention is drawn to the permits and consents •for drivers, conductors and vehicles in the London area. It is essential that application for these should be made at once ; no forms are required, but the particulars which have to be given are fully and clearly set out in the Order.