Extortion.—Coachmen refusing to go on, or extorting more than their fare, are to forfeit not more than 3l. nor less than 10s. Not only the Commissioners in Essex Street, Strand, but also the Magistrates at the Police-offices, determine such Offences, and inflict Punishments.
Obligation to go on.—If a Coach be drawn off the Stand to the side of the pavement, it is equally as liable to be hired as if it stood on the Stand, and the Coachman may be made to go with you, if not hired—if he refuses, he is liable to be fined. They are compellable, if plying for hire, at any hour of the Day or the Night, to go upon all Turnpike roads, any where within Two miles and a half from the end of the Carriage-way pavement.
Articles left in a Hackney Coach are (by a late Act) to be taken to the Hackney Coach Office, Essex Street, Strand, on pain of paying 20l.; to be recovered on application to the Commissioners, or a Justice of the Peace.
The Coachman is to take the shortest way, and to charge accordingly: but if he, from choice or ignorance, does otherwise, he can make no extra charge.
He may refuse to take Heavy Luggage, unless he is paid something more than the fare; but he must object to it before it be put into the Coach: he cannot, however, object to take a small Parcel that may be carried in the hand.
When a Coachman is desired to wait, he may demand a sum in hand beyond his previous fare, and is accountable for such sum when you discharge him. He is not bound to wait without such a detainer, nor longer than it will pay for the time.
See a comprehensive Abstract of the 18 Acts of Parliament relating to Hackney Coaches, in p. 765 of Vol. II. of Sir George Chetwynd’s edition of Dr. Burn’s Justice, 8vo. 1825.
Those who wish to ascertain distance very exactly, I advise to purchase
Mr. Quaife’s Hackney Coach Directory, which is sold only at the Hackney Coach Office in Essex Street, Strand, and contains nearly Eighteen Thousand Fares from actual Measurements, and
Cary’s New Guide for ascertaining
Hackney Coach Fares, Price 3s. 6d.