Motor Vehicle Testing (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004

New regulation 19A (certificates of temporary exemption)

2.  After regulation 19 of the principal Regulations there shall be inserted the following regulation –

“Certificates of temporary exemption

19A.— (1) The Department may issue in respect of a vehicle a certificate of temporary exemption, by virtue of which that vehicle shall not, during the period specified in the certificate be subject to the provisions of Article 63(1) of the 1995 Order, where it is satisfied that –

(a) by reason of exceptional circumstances, as defined in paragraph (3), affecting either a vehicle testing centre or the vehicle, an examination cannot be completed by a date fixed under these Regulations for carrying out the examination; and

(b) the use of the vehicle on or after that date would constitute an offence under Article 63(1) of the 1995 Order.

(2) Every certificate of temporary exemption shall contain –

(a) in the case of a certificate issued for a motor vehicle, the registration mark (if any) exhibited on the vehicle or, if no such mark is so exhibited, the chassis or serial number marked on the vehicle or, if no such number is so marked, the identification mark which shall have been allotted to the vehicle by the Department;

(b) the date on which the certificate is issued; and

(c) the period during which the vehicle is exempted from the provisions of Article 63(1) of the 1995 Order so, however, that no such period shall exceed six months in duration.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(a) “exceptional circumstances” means a failure in the supply of essential services or other unexpected happening, a fire, an accident or industrial action.”.