Road Traffic Act 1961 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 5 · Public Service Vehicles
106. Rates of hire
Feedback & supportLast amended by an amending law of 2019.
The owner, driver or conductor of a public service vehicle is entitled to demand and take any rates of hire or fares that the Minister may prescribe.
owner
“owner”, in relation to a vehicle which is the subject of a hiring agreement or hire purchase agreement, means the person in possession of the vehicle under that agreement;
Except as otherwise provided, the prescription of any rates of hire or fares does not prevent an owner, driver or conductor from entering into a contract to receive a lower rate of hire or fare than that prescribed.
fare
“fare”, in relation to a public service vehicle, includes —(a)the amount of any rate, fee, levy and charge and any other valuable consideration (however described) for a journey by the public service vehicle; and(b)the provision of, or arrangements for, a discount, concession, allowance, rebate or credit applying in relation to any amount in paragraph (a);
If any dispute arises as to a rate or fare calculated according to distance, the dispute may be referred to the Registrar or to the officer in charge of any police station whose decision is final, and any certificate issued by the Registrar or the police officer with regard thereto is admissible in evidence.
Registrar
“Registrar” means the Registrar of Vehicles or the Deputy Registrar or an assistant registrar appointed under section 9;
The owner, driver or conductor of a public service vehicle who demands or takes or attempts to take any money in excess of those rates or fares shall be guilty of an offence.
public service vehicle
“public service vehicle” means a vehicle used or kept for use for the carriage, for hire or reward, of —(a)in the case of a motor car which does not ply for hire on any road but is hired under a contract, express or implied, for the use of the car as a whole, the driver of the car or any passenger; or(b)in any other case, any passenger,but excludes any vehicle constructed for use on fixed rails or specially prepared ways;
Any person who refuses to pay the owner, driver or conductor (as the case may be) the prescribed rate of hire or the prescribed fare when lawfully demanded shall be guilty of an offence.
This section does not apply to omnibuses, taxis and private hire cars to the extent that fares for the provision of bus services and ride‑hail services and street‑hail services using those vehicles are regulated by or under the Public Transport Council Act 1987.