Road Traffic Act 1988

121 Provisions as to Northern Ireland heavy goods vehicle drivers' licences

(1) The holder of a licence specifically to drive heavy goods vehicles granted under the law of Northern Ireland (in this section referred to as a “Northern Ireland licence”) may drive, and be employed in driving, on a road in Great Britain heavy goods vehicles of any class which he is authorised by that licence to drive, notwithstanding that he is not the holder of a heavy goods vehicle driver’s licence.

(2) The licensing authority may, notwithstanding anything in section 112 (1) of this Act, grant a full licence to drive a heavy goods vehicle of any class to an applicant resident in Great Britain if he is satisfied that the applicant has, within the period of five years ending on the date of the coming into force of the licence, held a Northern Ireland licence to drive any heavy goods vehicle of that class corresponding to a full licence, not being a licence granted under an enactment of the Parliament of Northern Ireland in consequence of a dispensation from passing a test of competence to drive by reason of the applicant’s residence outside the United Kingdom.

(3) A prescribed licensing authority may exercise as respects Great Britain the like power of suspending or revoking any Northern Ireland licence and of making an order under section 114 (1) of this Act as is conferred in relation to a heavy goods vehicle driver’s licence by sections 113 (2) and 114 (1) of this Act on the licensing authority for the traffic area in which the last-named licence was granted, and the provisions of sections 113 (2) and 114 (1) shall have effect accordingly.

(4) A holder of a Northern Ireland licence who is aggrieved by the suspension or revocation of the licence or the ordering of disqualification by virtue of subsection (3) above shall have the like right to require the reconsideration of the matter and the like right of appeal as are conferred by section 116 of this Act, except that the matter shall be reconsidered by the prescribed licensing authority, and—

(a) an appeal brought by virtue of this subsection shall, if the appellant is not resident in Great Britain, lie to a prescribed magistrates' court or a prescribed sheriff, and

(b) the provisions of section 116 (2) shall have effect accordingly.