Hackney Carriages and their Ordinances

It may come as a surprise to some, but the first ever Hackney Carriage Ordinance in England was passed in 1654 and there have been many since including some that are still relevant today

Excuse me Sir, do you mind putting your right hand on your rear wheel while you do that                                        

• It is an offence to hail a Hackney Carriage when it is in motion.
• Each Cab Rank has to be provided with an Horse Trough
• A Hackney Carriage Driver must ask each passenger if they have Smallpox, Plague or other notifiable disease
• It is an offence for any Driver of a Hackney Carriage to transport a corpse or a Rabid Dog
• The Driver of a Hackney Carriage must carry out a thorough search of his Carriage before allowing his Fare to leave
• The Driver of an Hackney Carriage must carry a bale of Hay on the roof of the Cab and a nosebag and sack of oats as adequate foodstuffs for the horse
• If the driver of a Cab drives too slowly he can be prosecuted for loitering
• Any Cab Driver who drives too quickly shall be guilty of Furious Driving
• It is an offence for any Cab Driver to make insulting gestures
• The Driver of a Hackney Carriage may urinate in a public place so long as he is stood near the rear of the Cab and has his right hand on the wheel.