Road Traffic Act 1988

73 Provisions supplementary to sections 69 to 72. E+W+S

[F1 (1) Where it appears to a person giving a notice under section 69(6) or 70(2) of this Act that the vehicle concerned is [F2 , by virtue of section 5 of the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995, authorised to be used under an operator’s licence,]], he must as soon as practicable take steps to bring the contents of the notice to the attention of—

(a) the traffic commissioner by whom [F3 the licence was issued] , and

(b) the holder of the licence if he is not in charge of the vehicle at the time when the notice is given.

[F4 (1ZA) Where in a case within subsection (1) above it appears to the person giving the notice that the vehicle is authorised to be used under two or more operators’ licences—

(a) if those licences were issued by different traffic commissioners, his duty under paragraph (a) of that subsection may be discharged by taking steps to bring the contents of the notice to the attention of any one of those commissioners,

(b) if those licences are held by different persons and none of those persons is in charge of the vehicle at the time when the notice is given, his duty under paragraph (b) of that subsection may be discharged by taking steps to bring the contents of the notice to the attention of any one of those persons, and

(c) if those licences are held by different persons and any of those persons is in charge of the vehicle at the time when the notice is given, no steps need be taken under that subsection to bring the contents of the notice to the attention of the others.]

(1A) Where it appears to a person giving a notice under section 69(6) or 70(2) of this Act that the vehicle concerned is used under a PSV operator’s licence, he must as soon as practicable take steps to bring the contents of the notice to the attention of—

(a) the traffic commissioner by whom the PSV operator’s licence was granted for the vehicle, and

(b) the holder of the licence if he is not in charge of the vehicle at the time when the notice is given.

(1B) In a case not within subsection (1) or subsection (1A) above, a person giving a notice under section 69(6) or 70(2) of this Act must as soon as practicable take steps to bring the contents of the notice to the attention of the owner of the vehicle if he is not in charge of it at the time when the notice is given.

(1C) A person giving a notice to the owner of a vehicle under section 72(7) of this Act must as soon as practicable take steps to bring the contents of the notice to the attention of any other person—

(a) who was the person to whom the previous notice under section 69(6) or 70(2) was given and was then the owner of the vehicle, or

(b) to whose attention the contents of the previous notice were brought under this section.

F5 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) Any reference in sections 69 to 72 of this Act to the driving of a vehicle is, in relation to a trailer, a reference to the driving of the vehicle by which the trailer is drawn.

(4) In this section [F6 “operator’s licence” has the same meaning as in the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995][F7 ; and “PSV operator’s licence” has the same meaning as in the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981].

[F8 (5) Schedule 4 to the Road Safety Act 2006 makes provision about the immobilisation of vehicles the driving of which has been prohibited under section 69 or 70 of this Act and about their removal and disposal.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 73(1)(1A)(1B)(1C) substituted (1.7.1992) for s. 73(1) by Road Traffic Act 1991 (c. 40, SIF 107:1), s. 48, Sch. 4 para. 56(2); S.I. 1992/1286, art. 2, Sch.

F2 Words in s. 73(1) substituted (1.1.1996) by 1995 c. 23, s. 60(1), Sch. 7 para. 12(1)(a) (with ss. 54, 55); S.I. 1995/2181, art. 2

F3 Words in s. 73(1)(a) substituted (1.1.1996) by 1995 c. 23, s. 60(1), Sch. 7 para. 12(1)(b) (with ss. 54, 55); S.I. 1995/2181, art. 2

F4 S. 73(1ZA) inserted (1.1.1996) by 1995 c. 23, s. 60(1), Sch. 7 para. 12(2) (with ss. 54, 55); S.I. 1995/2181, art. 2

F5 S. 73(2) repealed (1.7.1992) by Road Traffic Act 1991 (c. 40, SIF 107:1), ss. 48, 83, Sch. 4 para. 56(3), Sch. 8; S.I. 1992/1286, art. 2, Sch.

F6 Words in s. 73(4) substituted (1.1.1996) by 1995 c. 23, s. 60(1), Sch. 7 para. 12(3) (with ss. 54, 55); S.I. 1995/2181, art. 2

F7 Words in s. 73(4) added (1.7.1992) by Road Traffic Act 1991 (c. 40, SIF 107:1), s. 48, Sch. 4 para. 56(4); S.I. 1992/1286, art. 2, Sch.

F8 S. 73(5) inserted (5.1.2009) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 12(3), 61; S.I. 2008/3164, arts. 1(2), 2(c)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 73 restricted (1.7.1992) by S.I. 1992/1217, reg. 7 (with reg. 11).

S. 73 excluded (23.6.1999) by S.I. 1999/1736, art. 8(1)(b)(2)(b)