Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022

4 Duties of operators of private hire vehicles

After section 167 of the Equality Act 2010 insert—

“167A Disabled passengers: duties of operators of private hire vehicles

(1) The operator of a private hire vehicle commits an offence by failing or refusing to accept a booking for the vehicle if—

(a) the booking is requested by or on behalf of a disabled person or a person who wishes to be accompanied by a disabled person, and

(b) the reason for the failure or refusal is—

(i) that the passenger has a disability, or

(ii) to prevent the driver of the private hire vehicle being made subject to a duty which would otherwise be imposed on the driver by section 164A, 165 or 165A.

(2) The operator of a private hire vehicle commits an offence by making, or proposing to make, an additional charge for the carrying out of any duty imposed on the driver of the private hire vehicle under section 164A, 165 or 165A.

(3) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) or (2) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(4) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) to show that it was reasonable not to have accepted the booking due to a lack of suitable vehicles.

(5) In this section “the passenger” means the disabled person concerned.”