(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations amend the Public Service Vehicles Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1985. The principal amendments are as follows:

1

Regulation 3 prescribes 7 classes of public service vehicle, 6 for different types of buses and minibuses and 1 for taxis.

2

In regulation 4 provision is made for vehicle examiners to refuse to carry out an inspection of any vehicle where certain requirements are not met.

3

Regulation 4 also provides for the introduction into the vehicle inspection of an annual check of the condition of all seat belts and their anchorages (“the condition check”).

4

A single check of the quality of installation of additional forward facing seat belts and their anchorages (“the installation check”) is introduced into the vehicle inspection for certain classes of buses.

5

New fees are introduced for vehicle inspections which include such installation checks. The new fees are as follows:

a

for the initial application for a licence, and where a re-application is made under regulation 9(2)—

i

for class IA vehicles, £52·50;

ii

for class IIA vehicles, £62·00; and

iii

for class IIIA vehicles, £71·50;

b

where a re-application is made within 21 days of a refusal, for all classes except taxis, £12·50;

c

where a re-application is made under regulation 9(4) within 21 days of the notice of refusal—

i

for class IA vehicles, £12·50;

ii

for class IIA vehicles, £22·00; and

iii

for class IIIA vehicles, £31·50.

Copies of the ECE Regulation and relevant Community Instruments referred to in these Regulations may be obtained from the Stationery Office Bookshop, 16 Arthur Street, Belfast, BT1 4GD.