23. (1) The driver of a small public service vehicle in respect of which a fare has been agreed in advance of the commencement of the hire, who charges or seeks to charge a fare that is greater than the agreed fare commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a class C fine.

(2) The driver of a taxi who is plying or engaged for hire or standing for hire at an appointed stand, whether or not the taxi is standing for hire at the head of the stand, shall not refuse to carry a person as a passenger in the taxi, save where—

(a) to do so would exceed the number of persons permitted to be carried in the taxi under the licence in respect of that vehicle,

(b) the person’s proposed journey is more than 30 kilometres in distance (or such other distance as stands specified in regulations made by the Authority) from the commencement of the journey,

(c) there are adverse weather or road conditions or traffic controls affecting the journey or route such as to render the journey unsafe or impractical,

(d) luggage or other articles in the person’s possession to be carried in the vehicle are in excess of the luggage carrying capacity of, or could cause damage to, the taxi, or

(e) the passenger or intending passenger—

(i) appears or acts in an aggressive, intoxicated, drunk or disorderly manner, or the driver has reason to believe, will act as such, or

(ii) is dishevelled to such a degree that in the driver’s opinion carriage of such person would affect the sanitation or cleanliness of the taxi.

(3) The driver of a taxi when hired for a journey, shall not complete the journey, unless otherwise requested by the passenger, other than by taking—

(a) the shortest route, where practicable, or

(b) with the consent of the passenger, the most convenient route.

(4) The driver of a taxi who fails to comply, without reasonable cause, with subsection (2) or (3) commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a class C fine.