STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS

S.I. No. 501 of 2006

Taxi Regulation Act 2003 (Small Public Service Vehicles) (Licensing) (No. 2) (Amendment) Regulations 2006

The Commission for Taxi Regulation, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by sections 34 and 39 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 (No. 25 of 2003), hereby makes the following regulations:

1.   These Regulations may be cited as the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 (Small Public Service Vehicles) (Licensing) (No. 2) (Amendment) Regulations 2006.

2.   The Taxi Regulation Act 2003 (Licensing) (No. 2) Regulations 2006 ( S.I. No. 467 of 2006 ) are amended by:-

(a) in Regulation 2, by inserting before the definition of -�Commission-� the following definition:

-� -�booking fee-� means a fee that may be charged in respect of a taxi or wheelchair accessible taxi service that had been booked in advance by the consumer;-�, and

(b) in Regulation 5, by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:

-�(3A) For the avoidance of doubt, a booking fee may not be charged where a taxi or wheelchair accessible taxi is engaged:

(a) while plying for hire or standing for hire, or

(b) without having been booked in advance by the consumer, at an airport or other transport station or terminal.-�.

Given under the seal of the Commission for Taxi Regulation,

27 September 2006.

Ger Deering

Commissioner for Taxi Regulation

Explanatory Memorandum

(This note is not part of the instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

These Regulations provide clarification in relation to the circumstances in which it is lawful to charge a booking fee in respect of a taxi or wheelchair accessible taxi service. They provide that a booking fee may not be charged where a taxi or wheelchair accessible taxi is hailed in the street or engaged at a taxi rank or, without having been pre-booked by the consumer, at an airport or other transport station or terminal.