The Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

Testing condition of used vehicles at sale rooms, etc. N.I.

85.—(1) An authorised examiner may at any reasonable hour enter premises where used motor vehicles or trailers are supplied in the course of a business and test and inspect any used motor vehicle or trailer found on the premises for the purpose of ascertaining whether it is in an unroadworthy condition for the purpose of Article 83(1).

(2) In this Article (except sub-paragraph (d)) references to supply include—

(a) sell,

(b) offer for sale or supply,

(c) expose for sale, and

(d) otherwise keep for sale or supply.

(3) An authorised examiner may at any reasonable hour enter premises where vehicles or vehicle parts of a class prescribed for the purposes of Article 31E of the Order of 1981 are supplied in the course of a business and test and inspect any such vehicle or vehicle part for the purpose of ascertaining whether the vehicle or vehicle part complies with the type approval requirements applicable to a vehicle or vehicle part of that class.

(4) For the purpose of testing a motor vehicle and any trailer drawn by it the authorised examiner may drive if and for the purpose of testing a trailer may draw it with a motor vehicle.

(5) A person who obstructs an authorised examiner acting under this Article is guilty of an offence.

(6) In this Article “authorised examiner” means a person who may act as an authorised examiner for the purposes of Article 75; and any such person, other than a constable in uniform, shall produce his authority to act for the purposes of that Article if required to do so.

(7) A motor vehicle or trailer shall be treated for the purposes of this Article as used if, but only if, it has previously been sold or supplied by retail.