Section 80: Taxi or contract car licence

80. Taxi or contract car licence (1) Every person applying for a public service vehicle licence in respect of a taxi or in respect of a contract car, referred to as a “taxi licence” or “contract car licence” respectively, shall submit to the Authority in the form it requires— (a) particulars of the type of vehicle to be used; (b) particulars as to the stand or base from which it is intended to operate the taxi or contract car; and (c) such other particulars as the Authority may require. [Issue 9] R27 – 72 Revised Laws of Mauritius (2) (a) The Authority may grant or refuse an application for a taxi licence or a contract car licence. (b) In deciding whether to grant or refuse an application under paragraph (a), the Authority shall have regard— (i) primarily to the needs and interests of the public generally, including those of persons requiring, as well as those providing, facilities for the conveyance of passengers; and (ii) to the character of the applicant. (c) The Authority shall also take into consideration any objection or other representation which may be made by— (i) a person who is already providing transport facilities, whether by means of road transport or any other kind of transport, along or near to the routes or in the area or any part of the area in respect of which the application is made; (ii) a local authority in whose area the service is to be provided; or (iii) a member of the public within that area. (d) The onus of proving that there are grounds for an objection shall lie on the objector. (3) Subject to this section and to regulations made by the Minister, the Authority may attach to a taxi licence such conditions as it thinks fit— (a) with regard to matters to which it is required to take into consideration under subsection (2) and, in particular, for securing that— (i) prescribed fares are charged; (ii) copies of the fare table are carried and made available for inspection in vehicles; (iii) wages, conditions of service and hours of employment are in accordance with particulars attached to the licence; (iv) arrangements are made for the systematic and complete maintenance of the vehicle; and (v) the authorised vehicle is used only in a specified district or between specified places or from a specified base or on specified roads; and (b) to impose in the public interest or with a view to preventing uneconomic competition. (4) The Authority may cancel or vary any of the conditions attached to a taxi licence under subsection (3). (5) (a) Where the particulars required under subsection (1) have been supplied and the application is otherwise in order, the Authority shall cause a notice of the application to be published in— (i) the Gazette; and R27 – 73 [Issue 1] Road Traffic Act (ii) such other manner as may be prescribed, or as the Authority thinks fit, not less than 14 days before the public sitting at which the application is heard. (b) Notice of an objection or other representation from— (i) a person already providing transport facilities along or near to the routes or in the area or any part of the area in respect of which the application is made; or (ii) a local authority, stating the grounds on which he, or it, desires to object or to make a representation, shall be given in writing in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed.