Leeds regulatory framework: questions and answers

1. You are cautioned by the police while you hold a Leeds licence. When must you tell the licensing office?

1. At your next renewal
2. In writing within 72 hours (correct answer)
3. Within 14 days by phone
4. Only if it leads to a court case

Answer: B. In writing within 72 hours. Leeds conditions say any conviction, caution, summons, fixed penalty notice or arrest must be reported in writing within 72 hours. The policy sets the same 72-hour rule for all licence holders. Leeds private hire driver conditions, condition 5(a); Leeds taxi and private hire licensing policy, 3.2

2. You are arrested but released without charge. Do you need to tell the Leeds licensing office?

1. No, because you were not charged
2. Only if the police contact the council
3. Yes, in writing within 72 hours (correct answer)
4. Only if you are later convicted

Answer: C. Yes, in writing within 72 hours. The list of events you must report includes your arrest for any offence, whether or not you are charged. Leeds private hire driver conditions, condition 5(a)

3. You leave one private hire operator and start working for another. When must you tell the council?

1. In writing, within 72 hours (correct answer)
2. Within 7 days
3. At your next renewal
4. You do not need to, the operator will

Answer: A. In writing, within 72 hours. A licensed driver must inform the council immediately in writing, and in any case within 72 hours, if they change operator. Leeds private hire driver conditions, condition 2

4. You move house. Within how many days must you tell the council in writing?

1. 72 hours
2. 14 days
3. 28 days
4. 7 days (correct answer)

Answer: D. 7 days. Private hire drivers must tell the council in writing of a change of address within seven days. Leeds private hire driver conditions, condition 3

5. Your doctor tells you not to drive for a while because of a health problem. When must you tell the council?

1. In writing, within 72 hours (correct answer)
2. Only when you renew your licence
3. Within 28 days
4. Only if the DVLA writes to you

Answer: A. In writing, within 72 hours. Any change in medical circumstances that you must tell the DVLA about, or where your GP has told you not to drive, must be reported to the council in writing within 72 hours. Leeds private hire driver conditions, condition 4(a)

6. You arrive at a house to collect a booked passenger. How should you let them know you are there?

1. Sound the horn once so the passenger knows you have arrived
2. Use the operator's ring-back system or radio the base (correct answer)
3. Knock loudly on the door, then wait in the car
4. Flash your headlights until someone comes out

Answer: B. Use the operator's ring-back system or radio the base. Use the operator's ring-back system or radio the base. Sounding the horn is an offence and causes nuisance, and drivers who do it may have to do training and a knowledge test. Leeds private hire driver conditions, condition 9(d) and note 8

7. A passenger asks for a receipt. Which of these must the receipt show?

1. Your own home address and postcode
2. The passenger's full name and phone number
3. Your driver badge number (correct answer)
4. The date of the vehicle's last MOT test

Answer: C. Your driver badge number. A receipt must show the operator's name, the date and time of the hiring, your badge number, the cost of the journey, and your signature and printed name. It must be free of charge. Leeds private hire driver conditions, condition 12

8. A passenger leaves a bag in your private hire vehicle. Where must you take it if you cannot return it?

1. To the operator's office within 7 days, with a note of the job
2. Keep it for the passenger for 28 days
3. To the council office within 48 hours
4. To the police station for the operator's area within 72 hours (correct answer)

Answer: D. To the police station for the operator's area within 72 hours. Lost property must be taken to the police station for the area where the operator is based, at once and in any case within 72 hours. Keep a record of the receipt for 6 months. Leeds private hire driver conditions, condition 13

9. When may you use a mobile phone or headset in your private hire vehicle?

1. When you are safely parked, or in an emergency such as a 999 call (correct answer)
2. At any time, as long as it is a hands-free phone
3. While you are stopped at red traffic lights
4. Only to call a passenger to say you are close

Answer: A. When you are safely parked, or in an emergency such as a 999 call. You must not use a mobile phone, headset or similar unless you are safely parked, except in an emergency such as a 999 call. It must not be used for social calls or to record a booking the operator has not sent. Leeds private hire driver conditions, condition 9(m)

10. A driver picks up a passenger in the street, then types the job into the operator's system so it looks pre-booked. How does Leeds treat this?

1. As a minor admin mistake that needs no action
2. As a serious breach that may lead to suspension and revocation (correct answer)
3. As allowed, as long as the passenger pays by card
4. As allowed after midnight, when buses have stopped

Answer: B. As a serious breach that may lead to suspension and revocation. Recording a hiring the operator did not send, to make it look lawfully pre-booked, is a serious breach of the law and the conditions and may lead to suspension and revocation. Leeds private hire driver conditions, condition 9(n)

11. You drop off a child travelling alone. Where should the child leave the vehicle?

1. Wherever is quickest and safest for you to stop
2. At the end of their street, so you can turn round
3. Directly onto the kerb, right outside their destination (correct answer)
4. At the nearest bus stop to their destination, to save time

Answer: C. Directly onto the kerb, right outside their destination. Take particular care with unaccompanied children and vulnerable adults. They should leave the vehicle directly onto the kerb, immediately outside their destination. Leeds private hire driver conditions, condition 9(f)

12. A passenger gets into your hackney carriage for a journey by distance. When must you start the meter?

1. Halfway through the journey, once you know the traffic
2. When you reach the destination and the passenger asks the fare
3. Only if the passenger asks
4. Before you begin the journey, so it shows HIRED (correct answer)

Answer: D. Before you begin the journey, so it shows HIRED. As soon as the carriage is hired by distance, and before beginning the journey, you must bring the meter into action so that the word HIRED shows, and keep it running until the end of the hiring. Leeds hackney carriage byelaws (1975), byelaw 5(b)

13. When must the roof sign on a Leeds hackney carriage be lit?

1. When you are standing or plying for hire (correct answer)
2. Only at night, between sunset and sunrise
3. Whenever you have a passenger in the vehicle
4. Only while you are waiting on a council rank

Answer: A. When you are standing or plying for hire. The roof sign must be kept lit when you are standing or plying for hire, and must not be lit when the carriage is hired. Leeds hackney carriage byelaws (1975), byelaw 5(d) and (e)

14. A passenger gives no directions. Which route must you take to their destination?

1. The route with fewest traffic lights
2. The shortest available route (correct answer)
3. The route you know best
4. The motorway, whatever the distance

Answer: B. The shortest available route. When hired to a destination, and subject to any directions from the hirer, you must go by the shortest available route. Leeds hackney carriage byelaws (1975), byelaw 11

15. Your hackney carriage plate says 4 passengers. A family of two adults and three children aged 6, 8 and 11 want to travel. Can you take them?

1. Yes, two children under 10 count as one person
2. Yes, children under 16 are never counted on the plate
3. No, in Leeds each child counts as a separate passenger (correct answer)
4. Yes, as long as the younger children sit on an adult's lap

Answer: C. No, in Leeds each child counts as a separate passenger. The old byelaw let two children under 10 count as one person, but the Leeds hackney carriage conditions override it: each child counts as a separate passenger. Five people is more than the 4 on the plate. Leeds hackney carriage conditions, 8.1.1; byelaw 12

16. You arrive at a rank that is not full. Where do you put your vehicle?

1. At the front, if you have been waiting longer elsewhere
2. Anywhere on the rank where there is a free space
3. Across the end of the rank, so you can leave quickly
4. Immediately behind the last vehicle, facing the same way (correct answer)

Answer: D. Immediately behind the last vehicle, facing the same way. You must station your carriage immediately behind the carriages already on the stand, facing the same direction, and move forward as the carriages in front leave. Leeds hackney carriage byelaws (1975), byelaw 7(c) and (d)

17. Under the Leeds byelaws, within how long must you hand in property left in your hackney carriage, if the owner has not claimed it?

1. 24 hours
2. 48 hours (correct answer)
3. 72 hours
4. 7 days

Answer: B. 48 hours. Property left in a hackney carriage must be taken to the council office as soon as possible and in any case within 48 hours, if the owner has not claimed it. Leeds hackney carriage byelaws (1975), byelaw 20(a)

18. Where must a Leeds hackney carriage driver wear the council badge?

1. On the left breast of the outer garment, plainly visible (correct answer)
2. On a lanyard inside the coat, ready to show
3. On the dashboard, facing the passengers
4. Anywhere in the vehicle where it can be seen

Answer: A. On the left breast of the outer garment, plainly visible. When standing, plying for hire and when hired, the driver must wear the badge on the left breast of the outer garment so it is plainly visible, and must not lend it to anyone. Leeds hackney carriage byelaws (1975), byelaw 13

19. What colour must a standard Leeds hackney carriage be?

1. All black
2. Any colour, as long as it has council door plates
3. White, with a green stripe on each front door
4. White, with a black bonnet and boot lid (correct answer)

Answer: D. White, with a black bonnet and boot lid. A Leeds hackney carriage must be painted all white except the bonnet and boot lid, which must be all black. Only vehicles with approved corporate livery are different. Leeds hackney carriage conditions, 6.1

20. You are on a rank and business is slow. Can you call out to people walking past to ask if they want a taxi?

1. No, you must not call out or tout for passengers (correct answer)
2. Yes, as long as you stay on the rank
3. Yes, after 10pm when ranks are busy
4. Yes, if another driver calls out for you instead

Answer: A. No, you must not call out or tout for passengers. When standing or plying for hire, a driver must not call out or otherwise importune anyone to hire the carriage, and must not use anyone else to do it. Leeds hackney carriage byelaws (1975), byelaw 8

21. How long is a new Leeds driver licence first issued for?

1. 3 years
2. 5 years
3. 12 months (correct answer)
4. 6 months

Answer: C. 12 months. Driver licences are issued for 12 months at first, then for up to 3 years after that. The council can choose a shorter period. Leeds taxi and private hire licensing policy, 5.6

22. Leeds suspends your licence. Where can you appeal, and within what time?

1. To the council's complaints team, within 6 months
2. To the DVLA, within 28 days
3. To the Licensing Committee, within 7 days
4. To the magistrates' court, within 21 days (correct answer)

Answer: D. To the magistrates' court, within 21 days. Appeals against a suspension, revocation or refusal go to the magistrates' court within 21 days of the decision. The council's complaints procedure cannot be used for this. Leeds taxi and private hire licensing policy, 4.2 and 8.12

23. When can Leeds suspend or revoke a driver licence with immediate effect?

1. When it is in the interests of public safety (correct answer)
2. Only after a criminal court has convicted the driver
3. Only after a court hearing
4. Never, as there is always a 21-day wait before it starts

Answer: A. When it is in the interests of public safety. A licence may be suspended or revoked with immediate effect where public safety requires it, under section 52 of the Road Safety Act 2006. An appeal does not stop the suspension. Leeds taxi and private hire licensing policy, 8.8 and 8.10

24. A Leeds driver is aged 50. How often do they need a Group 2 medical?

1. Every year
2. Every 5 years (correct answer)
3. Every 10 years
4. Only at first application

Answer: B. Every 5 years. From age 45 a Group 2 medical is needed every 5 years until 65. From 65 it is needed every year. Leeds taxi and private hire licensing policy, 5.5

25. What must every Leeds licence holder subscribe to?

1. A trade association
2. The DBS Update Service (correct answer)
3. A breakdown service
4. A dashcam provider

Answer: B. The DBS Update Service. It is a licence condition that licensees subscribe to the Disclosure and Barring Service Online Update Service, at their own cost, so the council can monitor their criminal record. Leeds taxi and private hire licensing policy, 3.6

26. Your licensed vehicle is damaged in a crash and the damage affects its appearance. When must you tell the council?

1. As soon as possible, and within 72 hours (correct answer)
2. Within 14 days, on the council's form
3. At the vehicle's next council inspection
4. Only if a passenger was hurt in the crash

Answer: A. As soon as possible, and within 72 hours. Drivers and proprietors must report any accident or collision that materially affects the safety, performance or appearance of the vehicle, or passengers' comfort, as soon as possible and within 72 hours. Leeds taxi and private hire licensing policy, 6.7

27. Your vehicle has a meter. A journey starts and ends inside the Leeds district. Must you use the meter?

1. No, you can agree any price
2. Only at night
3. Only if the passenger asks
4. Yes, it must be used (correct answer)

Answer: D. Yes, it must be used. Where a journey starts and finishes within the Leeds district, a fitted taxi meter must be used. You cannot charge more than the meter shows. Leeds taxi and private hire licensing policy, 6.10

28. You agreed a fare of £12 before the journey, but the meter shows £14 at the end. What can you charge?

1. £14, the meter fare
2. £13, halfway between
3. £12, the agreed fare (correct answer)
4. £14 plus a waiting charge

Answer: C. £12, the agreed fare. If a fare was quoted and agreed and it is less than the meter fare, the lower quoted fare must be charged. Leeds taxi and private hire licensing policy, 6.10

29. An applicant has lived abroad for 6 months in a row. What extra document does Leeds need?

1. A certificate of good conduct, or a statutory declaration (correct answer)
2. A copy of the foreign driving licence they held
3. A letter from their employer while they were abroad
4. A second enhanced DBS check from a UK provider

Answer: A. A certificate of good conduct, or a statutory declaration. If an applicant has spent six continuous months or more overseas, they must produce a certificate of good conduct or a statutory declaration dated within the last three months. Leeds taxi and private hire licensing policy, 3.8

30. Which of these Acts is listed in the Leeds regulatory framework module, alongside the 1976 Act and the Town Police Clauses Act 1847?

1. The Licensing Act 2003
2. The Highways Act 1980 (correct answer)
3. The Gambling Act 2005
4. The Data Protection Act 2018

Answer: B. The Highways Act 1980. The driver training policy lists the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 and the Highways Act 1980 for the regulatory framework module. Leeds driver training policy (Apply for a licence page)

31. A man waves at your private hire vehicle on Boar Lane and asks you to take him home. What should you do?

1. Take him, as long as he pays the full fare in advance
2. Tell him he must book through an operator or use a hackney carriage (correct answer)
3. Take him and record the job in the operator's system afterwards
4. Take him if your next booking is near his home anyway

Answer: B. Tell him he must book through an operator or use a hackney carriage. Private hire vehicles are not available for immediate hire and must not be hailed in the street. They must be pre-booked and sent by a licensed operator. Leeds taxi and private hire licensing policy, 6.8 and 10; Leeds Drivers Plying for Hire policy (amended November 2019)

32. Leeds finds evidence that a private hire driver was plying for hire. What normally happens to their licence?

1. Nothing happens to the licence until there is a second offence
2. The driver gets a warning letter and nothing more
3. It is suspended, and revocation is considered at once (correct answer)
4. The driver pays a fixed penalty and keeps working

Answer: C. It is suspended, and revocation is considered at once. Where a driver is found plying for hire, with evidence that supports a prosecution or caution, the driver will normally be suspended and immediate consideration given to revoking the licence. Leeds Drivers Plying for Hire policy (amended November 2019)

33. A Leeds driver's licence is revoked for plying for hire. How long will it normally be before Leeds grants them another licence?

1. 7 years (correct answer)
2. 1 year
3. 3 years
4. 6 months

Answer: A. 7 years. Where a licence has been revoked or not renewed for plying for hire, Leeds will normally not grant a further licence for seven years. Leeds Drivers Plying for Hire policy (amended November 2019)

34. A new applicant already has one conviction for plying for hire from another council area. What does the Leeds policy say?

1. It is ignored because it happened in another council area
2. They are banned from holding a Leeds licence for life
3. They must wait 3 months, then they can apply again
4. They normally will not get a licence for a year after the conviction (correct answer)

Answer: D. They normally will not get a licence for a year after the conviction. Where an applicant has a conviction or formal caution for plying for hire, wherever it happened, they will normally not be granted a licence for a year from the date of the conviction or caution. Leeds Drivers Plying for Hire policy (amended November 2019)

35. According to Leeds, what happens to a private hire driver's insurance when they ply for hire?

1. It becomes invalid (correct answer)
2. It still covers the journey
3. It covers the passenger but not the driver
4. It is valid if the fare is low

Answer: A. It becomes invalid. The Leeds policy lists the dangers of plying for hire. The first is that the insurance becomes invalid, so the passenger is not covered. Leeds Drivers Plying for Hire policy (amended November 2019)

36. Officers from which councils can take enforcement action against Leeds-licensed vehicles?

1. Only officers employed by Leeds City Council
2. Officers from any council anywhere in England and Wales
3. Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Wakefield and York (correct answer)
4. Only officers from the North Yorkshire council

Answer: C. Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Wakefield and York. Leeds has given reciprocal enforcement powers to authorised officers of Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Wakefield and the City of York councils. Leeds taxi and private hire licensing policy, 4.1

37. A private hire vehicle waits on a city centre taxi rank. Which harm does the Leeds plying for hire policy name?

1. It wears out the road surface around the rank
2. Hackney carriage drivers cannot use the ranks to work (correct answer)
3. It uses more fuel than driving around the city
4. It confuses sat-navs and causes wrong turns

Answer: B. Hackney carriage drivers cannot use the ranks to work. The policy says hackney carriage drivers are often unable to ply their lawful trade because private hire vehicles fill ranks and block city centre roads. Leeds Drivers Plying for Hire policy (amended November 2019)