What is the law that allows taxi drivers to refuse jobs with ‘reasonable excuse’?
- Perry Richardson
- Sep 16
- 2 min read
Refusing a fare without good reason can cause serious consequences for taxi drivers. These range from fines and court proceedings to suspension or even loss of a licence.
In England, this falls under section 53 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847. The Act states that a driver who refuses or neglects, without reasonable excuse, to take a passenger within the city boundaries commits an offence.
Drivers may refuse a journey that starts in their licensed district but ends outside of it, as there is no statutory duty to accept a fare finishing beyond the controlled area. A job within the district can also be declined if there is a reasonable excuse, although this would ultimately be for a court to judge. Refusing a fare simply because it is too short is unlikely to be accepted as reasonable.
Licensed taxi drivers are recognised as public service providers and must serve passengers fairly. The Equality Act 2010 strengthens this duty by prohibiting refusal of service on grounds such as race, gender, age, disability, or other protected characteristics. Refusal on these grounds is unlawful.
Passenger conduct and safety
There are situations where refusal is justified. A driver may decline a passenger if they believe their own safety, or that of the passenger, would be at risk. This often relates to cases of excessive intoxication, aggressive behaviour, or disorder.
Quantifying this depends on what a reasonable person would consider unsafe. For example, a passenger who cannot stand, speak clearly, or control themselves may be considered excessively drunk. Aggression can be shown through shouting, abusive language, threats, or attempts to damage property. A person posing a danger might be violent, unstable on their feet to the point of falling into traffic, or likely to cause a health hazard inside the cab.
It is not the consumption of alcohol itself that justifies refusal, but whether the passenger’s behaviour makes the journey unsafe. If challenged, the driver must be able to explain the circumstances to licensing officers or a court.
The rule
Section 53 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 states:
‘A driver of a hackney carriage standing at any of the stands for hackney carriages appointed by the commissioners, or in any street, who refuses or neglects, without reasonable excuse, to drive such carriage to any place within the prescribed distance, or the distance to be appointed by any byelaw of the commissioners, not exceeding the prescribed dis- tance to which he is directed to drive by the person hiring or wishing to hire such carriage, shall for every such offence be liable to a penalty not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale.’
