(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.