2019 No. 27

Road Transport

The Public Service Vehicles (International Passenger Services) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019

Made

Coming into operation

The Department for Infrastructure1 makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 19722 and section 56(1) and (5) of the Finance Act 19733.

The Department for Infrastructure is designated4 for the purposes of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 in relation to measures relating to the carriage of passengers and goods by road.

In accordance with section 56(1) and (5) of the Finance Act 1973, the Department of Finance5 consents to the making of these Regulations.

Citation and commencementI11

These Regulations may be cited as the Public Service Vehicles (International Passenger Services) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019 and shall come into operation on 28th March 2019.

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I1

Reg. 1 in operation at 28.3.2019, see reg. 1

InterpretationI22

1

In these Regulations—

  • “the 1967 Act” means the Transport Act (Northern Ireland) 19676;

  • “the 1995 Order” means the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 19957;

  • “bus operator’s licence” means a bus operator’s licence within the meaning of section 48 of the 1967 Act;

  • “Department” means the Department for Infrastructure;

  • “EEA State” means a State, not being a Member State, which is a party to the EEA Agreement;

  • “Interbus” means the Agreement on the international occasional carriage of passengers by coach and bus9;

  • “Regulation 1071/2009” means Regulation (EC) No 1071/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing common rules concerning the conditions to be complied with to pursue the occupation of road transport operator10;

  • “Regulation 1073/2009” means Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules for access to the international market for coach and bus services11.

2

For the purposes of Regulation 1073/2009 and Interbus, “authorised inspecting officer” means—

a

a constable in uniform; or

b

a vehicle examiner appointed under Article 74 of the 1995 Order.

3

Terms and expressions used in Regulation 1073/2009 or Interbus have the same meaning in these Regulations.

4

The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 195412 shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I2

Reg. 2 in operation at 28.3.2019, see reg. 1

Competent authorityI33

F2... The competent authority for the purposes of Regulation 1073/2009, Interbus and of these Regulations is the Department.

Use of a public service vehicle not registered in the United KingdomI44

1

This regulation applies to a vehicle not registered in the United Kingdom but which is registered in F3a Member State, an EEA State or an Interbus State, and which is being used in Northern Ireland in accordance with—

a

Interbus for the provision of liberalised occasional services or non-liberalised occasional services; or

b

Regulation 1073/2009—

i

for the provision of occasional services, regular services or special regular services; or

ii

for authorised cabotage operations as provided for in Article 15 of that Regulation.

2

In relation to a vehicle to which this regulation applies—

a

the 1967 Act has effect as if section 4 (grant of road service licences) was omitted; and

b

none of the provisions of the Public Service Vehicles Regulations (Northern Ireland) 198513 and the Public Service Vehicles (Conditions of Fitness, Equipment and Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 199514 shall have effect.

3

In this regulation, “Interbus State” means a State, not being a Member State, which is a contracting party to Interbus.

FeesI55

1

An applicant for a control document shall pay to the Department, when an application is made, a fee of £5.50 for a single waybill or £13.00 for a book of 25 waybills.

2

An applicant for an authorisation shall pay to the Department, when an application is made, a fee of £140.00 in respect of the application.

3

An applicant for an authorisation shall pay to the Department, before the authorisation is issued, in addition to the fee required by paragraph (2), a fee of £30.00 in respect of each year of validity of the authorisation.

4

An applicant for a certified copy of an authorisation shall pay to the Department, when an application is made, a fee of £10.00 in respect of each copy requested.

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I5

Reg. 5 in operation at 28.3.2019, see reg. 1

Control documents for cabotage operationsF4I66

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Issue of a Community licence and authorisationF5I77

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Withdrawal of a Community licenceF6I88

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Rights of appealF7I99

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Supply of information F8...I1010

1

The Department may refuse to issue F9an or authorisation to an applicant if the applicant fails to supply any information that the Department may reasonably request pursuant to F10Article 7(3) of Regulation 1073/2009 for the purpose of verifying whether the applicant satisfies the conditions laid down in Article 3(1) of that Regulation.

2

The holder of F11an or authorisation shall supply such information as the Department may reasonably require from time to time to enable it to decide whether the holder is entitled to retain the F12... authorisation.

3

A person who fails to supply any information required under paragraph (2) may have the F13... authorisation, and any certified true copies of it, withdrawn by the Department.

Power to stopI1111

1

Paragraph (2) applies if it appears to an authorised officer that a vehicle is being used in circumstances such that—

a

a Community licence,

b

an authorisation, or

c

a control document,

may be required.

2

The authorised officer may direct the driver to stop the vehicle so that they can conduct checks as to whether an offence has been committed under these Regulations.

3

In this regulation “authorised officer” means an officer appointed under Article 74 of the 1995 Order.

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I11

Reg. 11 in operation at 28.3.2019, see reg. 1

Death, bankruptcy etc. of holder of Community licenceF14I1212

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Amendment of the Transport Act (Northern Ireland) 1967I1313

1

The 1967 Act is amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (4).

2

In section 34(a) (forgery of licences)16, for “Article 6 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 12/98 of 11th December 1997” substitute “Article 12(4) or 17(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009”.

3

In section 35(f) (false statements)17, for “Article 6 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 12/98 of 11th December 1997” substitute “Article 12(4) or 17(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009”.

4

In section 81(1) (interpretation)18, after the definition of “the 2009 Regulation” insert—

  • “Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009” means Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 on common rules for access to the international market for coach and bus services, and amending Regulation (EC) No 561/2006;”.

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I13

Reg. 13 in operation at 28.3.2019, see reg. 1

Amendment of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981I1414

1

The Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 198119 is amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (4).

2

In Article 84(2) (power in certain cases to prohibit driving of foreign vehicles)20, in sub-paragraph (b), after “statutory provisions” insert “or the provision of the EU instrument”.

3

In Schedule 1 (statutory provisions conferring functions on authorised officers)21, after the entry relating to Articles 86 and 87 of the 1995 Order, insert—

Article 18 of the Agreement on the international occasional carriage of passengers by coach and bus (Interbus Agreement) (OJ No. L321, 26.11.2002, p. 13).

To require the presentation of certain control documents and authorisations, which are required to be kept on board certain passenger vehicles.

Article 20 of the Agreement on the international occasional carriage of passengers by coach and bus (Interbus Agreement).

To require the presentation of a certified true copy of a licence to perform carriage by means of certain international occasional services, which is required to be kept on board certain passenger vehicles.

4

In Schedule 2 (statutory provisions relating to vehicles and their drivers)22

a

for the entry relating to regulation 3 of the Road Service Licensing (Community Licences) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 201323 substitute—

Article 4(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules for access to the international market for coach and bus services, and amending Regulation (EC) No 561/2006.

Requirement to keep a certified true copy of a Community licence in a vehicle and present it at the request of any authorised inspecting officer.

b

for the entry relating to regulation 8 of the Road Service Licensing (Community Licences) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 substitute—

Article 17(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules for access to the international market for coach and bus services, and amending Regulation (EC) No 561/2006.

Requirement to keep a journey form on board a vehicle and present it at the request of any authorised inspecting officer.

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I14

Reg. 14 in operation at 28.3.2019, see reg. 1

Amendment of the Road Passenger Transport (Qualification of Operators) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014I1515

In regulation 7(2)(b) (determination in respect of a transport manager: disqualification orders) of the Road Passenger Transport (Qualification of Operators) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 201424, for “Article 8.3” substitute “Article 8.8”.

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I15

Reg. 15 in operation at 28.3.2019, see reg. 1

OffencesI1616

1

Any person who breaches a provision of—

a

Regulation 1073/2009 set out in Schedule 1; or

b

Interbus set out in Schedule 2,

is guilty of an offence.

2

It is an offence—

a

intentionally to obstruct any person acting in the execution or enforcement of these Regulations;

b

without reasonable cause, to fail to give to any such person any assistance or information which that person may reasonably require under these Regulations;

c

to furnish to any such person information knowing it to be false or misleading; or

d

to fail to produce a document or record to any such person when required to do so.

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I16

Reg. 16 in operation at 28.3.2019, see reg. 1

Bodies corporateI1717

For the purposes of these Regulations section 20(2) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 applies with the omission of the words “the liability of whose members is limited” and where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, applies in relation to the acts or defaults of a member in connection with his functions of management as if he were a director of the body corporate.

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I17

Reg. 17 in operation at 28.3.2019, see reg. 1

PenaltiesI1818

1

A person guilty of an offence under Article 4(1) of Regulation 1073/2009 (requirement to possess a Community licence) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

2

A person guilty of any other offence under these Regulations is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I18

Reg. 18 in operation at 28.3.2019, see reg. 1

RevocationsI1919

The Road Service Licensing (Community Licences) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 are revoked.

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I19

Reg. 19 in operation at 28.3.2019, see reg. 1

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Infrastructure on 4th March 2019

seal_r00001Tom ReidA senior officer of theDepartment for Infrastructure

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance on 4th March 2019

seal_r00001Emer MorelliA senior officer of theDepartment of Finance

I20SCHEDULE 1Offences for breach of Regulation 1073/2009

Regulation 16

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I20

Sch. 1 in operation at 28.3.2019, see reg. 1

Provision of Regulation 1073/2009

Subject Matter

Article 4(1) and (3)

International carriage of passengers subject to possession of a Community licence

Article 5(1)

Requirement for an authorisation for the provision of regular services

Article 5(3)

Requirement of some occasional services providing parallel or temporary services to have an authorisation

Article 5(5)

Requirement for own account transport operations to be subject to F1the possession of a certificate

Article 6(6)

Authorisation to operate a regular service and the documents to be carried

Article 11(1)

Requirement of an operator providing regular services to comply with the conditions of an authorisation

Article 11(2)

Requirement of an operator providing regular services to provide information to passengers

Article 12(1)

Control documents required for the operation of occasional services

Article 12(2)

Requirement on the operator to complete a control document prior to each journey undertaken

Article 12(3)

Requirement for information to be included in a control document

Article 12(6)

Control documents required for the operation of special regular services

Article 15(c)

Provision of authorised regular service cabotage operations

Article 17(1)

Control documents required to be carried for the provision of occasional cabotage operations

Article 17(2)

Requirement for information to be included in a control document

Article 17(4)

Control documents required to be carried for the provision of special regular services cabotage

Article 18

Requirement to provide either individual or collective transport tickets when providing regular services

Article 19

Authorisation or control document required for inspection on the road

I21SCHEDULE 2Offences for breach of Interbus

Regulation 16

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I21

Sch. 2 in operation at 28.3.2019, see reg. 1

Provision of Interbus

Subject matter

Article 5

Requirement for vehicles used for international occasional services to comply with technical standards

Article 7(1)

Authorisation for non-liberalised occasional services

Article 10

Control documents required for operating liberalised occasional services exempted from authorisation

Article 12(3)

Correct completion of control documents

Article 13

Correct completion of control documents

Article 18

Authorisation or control document required for inspection on the road

Article 20

Requirement to possess a true copy of a licence to be carried for the purposes of international occasional services

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations revoke and replace the Road Service Licensing (Community Licences) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013. They implement Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 (“the EU Regulation”) of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules for access to the international market for coach and bus services (OJ No L300, 14.11.2009, p. 88; “the EU Regulation”) and the Agreement on the international occasional carriage of passengers by coach and bus (OJ No L321, 26.11.2002, p. 13; “the Interbus Agreement”).

The EU Regulation and the Interbus Agreement establish rules allowing access to the market for the provision of international bus and coach services.

In particular the EU Regulation provides for a Community licence and makes provision in relation to regular services, special regular services, occasional services and cabotage, requiring an authorisation for the operation of regular services and the carrying of control documents. Relevant terms are defined in Article 2 of the EU Regulation.

The Interbus Agreement makes provision in relation to occasional services from States which are contracting parties to the Agreement, requiring an authorisation in relation to non-liberalised occasional services and the carrying of control documents in relation to liberalised occasional services. Relevant terms are defined in Article 3 of the Agreement.

Regulation 3 designates the Department for Infrastructure (“the Department”) as the competent authority for the purposes of the EU Regulation and the Interbus Agreement.

Regulation 4 disapplies certain domestic road transport requirements for public service vehicles not registered in the United Kingdom but providing services under the EU Regulation or the Interbus Agreement.

Regulation 5 makes provision for the payment of fees to the Department for the issue of control documents or an authorisation. Regulation 6 makes provision in relation to the retention of control documents. Regulation 7 confers entitlement to a Community licence on the basis of possessing the relevant Northern Ireland bus operator’s licence.

Regulations 8 to 10 make provision in relation to information to be supplied with applications for a Community licence, the withdrawal of Community licences and appeals against withdrawal.

Regulation 11 gives power to authorised officers (as defined in that regulation) to stop vehicles to check whether an offence under the Regulations has been committed. Offences are set out in regulation 16 and Schedules 1 and 2 and regulation 18 provides that they are punishable on summary conviction by a fine not exceeding level 3 under these Regulations or level 4 under Article 4(1) of Regulation 1073/2009 on the standard scale.

Provision is made for the automatic transfer of a Community licence and an authorisation following the death, bankruptcy or incapacity of the holder (regulation 12) and for offences which may be committed by a body corporate (regulation 17).

In addition provision is made for the amendment of other relevant legislation (regulations 13, 14 and 15).

An Explanatory Memorandum has been produced and is available from the Transport Strategy Division, Department for Infrastructure, Clarence Court, 10-18 Adelaide Street, Town Parks, Belfast BT2 8GB or online alongside these Regulations at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr.