Miscellaneous

27 Duty to give information.

1

Where it is alleged that a mechanically propelled vehicle has been used or kept in contravention of section 8, 16(7) or 18(4) of this Act—

a

the person keeping the vehicle shall give such information as he may be required by or on behalf of a chief officer of police or the Secretary of State to give as to the identity of the person or persons concerned and, if he fails to do so, shall be guilty of an offence unless he shows to the satisfaction of the court that he did not know and could not with reasonable diligence have ascertained the identity of the person or persons concerned;

b

any other person shall, if required as aforesaid, give such information as it is in his power to give and which may lead to the identification of any of the persons concerned and, if he fails to do so, shall be guilty of an offence; and

c

in a case where it is alleged that the vehicle has been used at any time in contravention of the said section 8, the person who is alleged to have so used the vehicle shall, if required as aforesaid, give such information as it is in his power to give as to the identity of the person by whom the vehicle was kept at that time and, if he fails to do so, shall be guilty of an offence.

2

The following persons shall be treated for the purposes of subsection (1)(a) and (b) above as persons concerned, that is to say—

a

in relation to an alleged offence of using a vehicle in contravention of section 8, 16(7) or 18(4) of this Act, both the driver and any person using the vehicle;

b

in relation to an alleged offence of keeping the vehicle in contravention of the said section 8, the person keeping the vehicle.

3

A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) of this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding F1level 3 on the standard scale.